May 19, 1999

Ride of Your Life Program kick-off

Saskatoon Sutherland MLA Mark Koenker, on behalf of Deputy Premier and Crown Investments Corporation Minister Dwain Lingenfelter, along with MD Ambulance, SGI and Saskatoon Transit Services, today launched the 8th annual Ride of Your Life program. The program will ensure Saskatoon and area high school students have a safe ride home from graduation night festivities.

"Every year, needless injuries and deaths occur on grad nights, usually involving drinking and driving," Koenker said. "However, lack of sleep from late parties and overcrowding of students in vehicles has also contributed to such accidents. The Ride of Your Life program works to eliminate those accidents by providing vans, buses and volunteer drivers to safely transport students to and from their grad night activities.

"Since 1992, M.D. Ambulance, together with SGI, Saskatoon Transit Services and as many as 20 other corporate sponsors, has offered the Ride of Your Life program. All graduating classes that are participating in a chemical free after-grad are eligible to sign up. This year, all 13 Saskatoon high schools and two rural high schools, in Warmen and Martensville, are taking part.

"In 1998, 2,350 graduating students participated in the program and arrived home safely after their grad nights," said Dave Dutchak, Director of EMS for MD Ambulance. "MD Ambulance has helped provide a memorable and tragedy free night for thousands of graduating students.

Our goal is to ensure 1999 is equally safe."

"The City of Saskatoon and members of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) local 615 have been involved in the Ride of Your Life program from the beginning," said Dave Andreen, with Saskatoon Transit Services. "The city donates the buses and fuel and the operators donate their time. On average, 35 40 buses and drivers are available to help transport students to and from their grad night festivities every year."

The Ride of Your Life program also relies on vehicle dealerships in Saskatoon to donate vans to help transport students.

SGI is a long-term co-sponsor, providing third-party liability insurance to cover the volunteer drivers, and providing funding that assists in buying shirts for all the volunteers.

"The effects of an accident on grad night are devastating to entire communities," Koenker said. "By providing transportation on graduation night, the goal of The Ride of Your Life program is to ensure graduation festivities are memorable and safe."

The program runs from mid-May to the end of June.

For media inquiries only, contact:
Julianne Jack
SGI Communications
Regina
(306) 775-6907

For all other inquiries, call 1-800-667-8015.

For additional information, contact:

Darren Boser
MD Ambulance
(306) 797-3004
(306) 221-2388 (cell)

Dave Andreen
Saskatoon Transit Services
(306) 975-3139 (wk)
(306) 382-2490 (hm)

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