PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – After 14 years of volunteering with MADD Canada, Karen Anthony Burns has been recognized with the MADD Canada Volunteer of the Year Award for her commitment to the MADD Prince Albert Chapter and to making her community safer.
Anthony Burns joined MADD Canada following the 2010 impaired driving crash that claimed the life of her son, Daniel. She initially connected with MADD for support and soon became a dedicated volunteer with the Prince Albert Chapter.
Today, Anthony Burns serves as the chapter’s treasurer and plays a leadership role in its community awareness, education and advocacy activities.
“Karen is an exceptional volunteer and an incredible leader,” said Tracy Crawford, Regional Manager – Western Canada, MADD Canada.
“She is a great listener, encourager and community builder. Karen brings passion, professionalism and compassion to everything she does, and she has helped make MADD Prince Albert a trusted and respected partner throughout the community.”
According to MADD, Anthony Burns has built strong relationships with municipal police, the RCMP, SGI, local and provincial government representatives, businesses and other community partners. Police agencies regularly invite MADD Prince Albert volunteers to participate in check stops, where they distribute red ribbons and educational materials to sober drivers and reinforce the message that impaired driving is preventable.
Her community involvement is extensive. Anthony Burns and the MADD Prince Albert team have organized and participated in:
- MADD Mobile 911 sign campaigns
- Project Red Ribbon campaigns and Campaign 911 media events;
- Summer and Christmas parades;
- Crashed car awareness displays;
- Police award presentations recognizing officers for their work to remove impaired drivers
- Check stops and positive-ticketing initiatives with local police;
- Community booths at festivals and events;
- The memorial monument committee; and
- Numerous other community initiatives promoting road safety and preventing impaired driving.
Anthony Burns has also worked with her team to bring MADD Canada’s crashed car display to Prince Albert and surrounding communities. The display provides a powerful visual reminder of the devastating consequences of impaired driving and has generated significant community attention and discussion, MADD states in a release.
Anthony Burns says her commitment is also deeply personal. As a Victim Services volunteer, she provides ongoing support to victims and survivors and continues to stay connected with the families she supports.
Her motivation is rooted in her desire to prevent other families from experiencing the loss she knows firsthand, she says.
For 14 years, Anthony Burns has turned that commitment into action — building partnerships, raising awareness and creating opportunities for MADD’s message to reach people across Prince Albert and surrounding communities, the organization says.
The MADD Canada Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes an individual whose exceptional volunteer service demonstrates outstanding commitment to MADD Canada’s mission and makes a meaningful contribution to their community.
