Families march in remembrance of drunk-driving victims

A wave of purple swept down Broadway on its way to the legislature Friday morning.

Family and friends of Jordyn Reimer, who was killed by a drunk driver in 2022, donned purple shirts bearing a likeness of her face. Purple was chosen because it was Jordyn’s favourite colour.

Other participants toted signs with the names of loved ones who’d been killed in collisions caused by intoxicated drivers.

The roughly 80 people marched for the first Victims of Impaired Drivers Commemoration Day.

“It’s wonderful,” said Karen Reimer, Jordyn’s mother, outside the legislature, the crowd’s final stop. “The more you can make people aware of what drunk driving does, the better.”

The family advocated for changes to the law following the death of the 24-year-old. The driver of a pickup truck roared through a four-way stop in Transcona and hit Reimer’s car at 108 km/h in a 50 km/h zone. Jordyn had been acting as a designated driver at the time.

Progressive Conservative MLA Wayne Balcaen, prompted by the Reimer family’s advocacy, proposed legislation to designate a day to recognize victims of impaired driving. The law passed in June 2025.

Government officials chose May 1, the day Jordyn died.

“(It’s) making sure that there is recognition across our province, and of course, across the country — people can get that message that impaired driving is not a victimless crime,” Balcaen said.

Police cars briefly blocked Friday morning commuters. Carol Fraser-Hays walked past vehicles, holding a large sign showing a destroyed GMC Sierra truck.

Her son and three other boys were hit by a drunk driver on Highway 59 in 2022, she said. While nobody died, they were physically and mentally hurt.

“The four boys that were involved in the accidents, they don’t like to think about it, so they don’t get involved,” said Fraser-Hays, who has worked with Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

“Parents are different. Every time (my son) goes out on the highway now, I’m worried.”

RCMP responded to 21 fatal collisions where impairment was confirmed or suspected last year, said Scott McMurchy, commanding officer of the RCMP D Division.

The Winnipeg Police Service arrested 771 impaired drivers in 2025.

Trevor Ens, president of MADD’s Winnipeg chapter, said police are catching more impaired drivers through mandatory alcohol screening that was implemented by the federal government in 2018. The practice allows officers to demand breath samples without needing reasonable suspicion.

Ens said it should be extended to all crash sites.

MADD representatives plan to lobby politicians in Ottawa next weekend for anti-impaired technology to be built into new cars.

MADD has pointed to a United States entity — the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety Program — that’s working on technology in which steering wheels can detect alcohol on a driver’s breath.

In another program initiative, a driver’s alcohol level can be read when they push a button to start the vehicle.

MADD has also highlighted work done by Volvo, Nissan and Toyota.

“We understand here in Canada that this is important, this is going to save lives,” Ens said. “We need to make this happen.”

The Manitoba government sent a letter to the federal government in support of such technology, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said.

He’s had conversations with federal government officials on the matter, he said.

Wiebe introduced legislation that would prohibit drivers of large vehicles — including school buses and semi-trucks — from having alcohol in their system. The bill is expected to pass this spring.

Jordyn Reimer’s mother appealed to a committee examining the legislation earlier this year. She pushed for stronger penalties against drunk drivers, noting Ontario can permanently suspend the licences of first-time offenders who kill others.

On Friday, Wiebe said people with Class 1 through 4 licences are caught driving impaired far too often.

“We want to send the message that there’s severe penalties if you’re impaired,” he added.

The proposed amendments to the Highway Traffic Act would prohibit people convicted of these offences from driving with any alcohol in their blood for seven years after a first offence. A second conviction would carry a lifetime prohibition.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com