The Impact 6/21 Foundation, created after three local teens lost their lives to an impaired driver, will be wrapping up its operations.
The organization issued a news release on May 8, indicating that they have decided to fold their operations, stating that it was a difficult decision and that the time has come to let the memories of those three children who were killed by a drunk driver, rest in peace.
Steven Philippe, 16, Jazmine Houle, 15, and Caitlin Jelley, 15, were killed in 2009 when a speeding and drunk driver hit them. He kept going and crashed into a house a kilometre away. Nicholas Piovesan was later sentenced to the harshest penalty in Canadian history for impaired driving causing death.
"It has been difficult to grieve so publicly," said the release. "Though we drew strength from the pain, we’ve also sacrificed our own healing to fight the social pandemic of impaired driving. It’s time for us to rest, too."
A tribute and farewell video has been posted on the organization’s Facebook page and can be viewed here.
Impact 6/21's annual walk will no longer be a formal event, though the memorial site will be maintained and those wishing to pay their respects will be allowed to visit. The organization's signs will remain in place for the time being, and any decisions on their future will be made by the families.
In their news release, Impact 6/21 stated that they would prefer not to commit to any other initiatives that target impaired driving and are looking to take some time to find a new "normal". The organizers believe that they have accomplished what they set out to achieve in brining awareness to the impacts of impaired driving.
"If our goal was to ensure that the lives of our children would impact others, then yes, we’ve succeeded. We’ve shown an entire generation of friends, families and neighbours what alcohol mixed with driving can do, and we believe that many people have changed their habits, or at least their opinions on impaired driving," said the news release.
"It would be unfair and unrealistic to measure our success by comparing it to statistics for impaired driving. Clearly, it’s still a big problem, however, for those we’ve been able to reach, we feel that we’ve affected positive change, and we hope that those people will continue to share and honour the messages, ideas and words that we’ve used over the past nine years."
All remaining funds in Impact 6/21's trust account will be dispersed to local non-profit organizations. The details as to where they will be dispersed are still being worked out and the organization will make that information public once everything is finalized.
The group thanked the public for their support over the past decade.
"When we look back on the past decade, we will take with us only the happy memories that this community has shared with us," said the release.
