MADD Canada handed out its Team Nick Coates Awards to members of the RNC and RCMP for their efforts in taking impaired drivers off the road.
Six officers from the RNC and six officers from the RCMP were recognized today for taking 8 or more impaired drivers off the streets this year.
One of these recipients was RNC Constable Joseph Burry, who has been given an award each year since the event started in 2019.
Although Burry doesn’t have a personal story of tragedy, he wants to keep the streets safe for his teenage daughter who started driving.
The awards are in memory of Nick Coates, who passed away in 2013 when his motorcycle was struck but a drunk driver on Kenmount Road. He was 27 years old.
Patricia Hynes-Coates, Nick’s stepmother and the former President of MADD Canada, got emotional speaking about her stepson, and what this annual event means to her.
She says the event means Nick will never be forgotten. She says the day they buried Nick, she and her husband promised him to fight against impaired driving.
RCMP Recipients
Cst. Caleb Pellerin- Gold (57 drivers)
Cst. Raymond Whalen- Gold (14 drivers)
Cst. Francis Turgeon- Gold (14 drivers)
Cst. Caleb Brobbel- Silver (11 drivers)
Cpl. Corey Goulding- Silver (8 drivers)
Cst. John Marsh- Silver (8 drivers)
RNC Recipients
Cst. Cody Langmead- Gold (51 drivers)
Cst. Christopher Horan- Gold (13 drivers)
Cst. Joseph Burry- Silver (11 drivers)
Cst. Geoffrey Heffernan- Silver (8 drivers)
Cst. Zachary Putt- Silver (8 drivers)
Cst. Terrence Reid- Silver (8 drivers)
