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FORT SASKATCHEWAN, Alberta, Sept. 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, MADD Canada will unveil a new roadside memorial sign in memory of Alexandra Ollington, who was tragically killed in an impaired driving crash in Fort Saskatchewan. The sign has been installed at Southbound Service Rd 21, TWP RD 542.

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On September 17, 2020, an impaired driver was travelling the wrong way on Highway 21 when his northbound pickup truck collided with Alexandra’s SUV, which was heading south and carrying two other teens. The collision killed Alexandra and her friend and injured another teen. The driver’s blood alcohol concentration was two-and-a-half times the legal limit.

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“Losing a child is a parent’s worst nightmare,” said Tanya Hansen Pratt, National President of MADD Canada. “For Alexandra’s mother, Maria Popiwchak, that unimaginable loss became reality when her only daughter, just 17 years old, was taken from her. Alexandra should have had decades ahead of her to grow, dream and build a life. Instead, her mother is left to carry memories of the daughter she loved and a future they will never share. We honour Alexandra by saying her name, remembering her life and working to ensure no parent experiences this kind of loss.”

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“You never recover from losing a child, especially when their life is taken because someone chose to drive impaired,” said Alexandra’s mom, Maria Popiwchak. “Alexandra was my only child, my family, my future. When she died, I didn’t just lose my child—I lost everything. No parent should ever have to experience this. Alexandra should still be here, and I will spend the rest of my life carrying her memory and reminding people that impaired driving is a choice that can destroy a family forever.”

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Family, friends and special guests will be attending the unveiling event today, including Alexandra’s mom, Maria Popiwchak; Mayor Lisa Makin, City of Fort Saskatchewan; Councillor Birgit Blizzard, City of Fort Saskatchewan; Cpl. Devon Lafreniere, Fort Saskatchewan RCMP; Jane Smith-Duguid, Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure & Planning, City of Fort Saskatchewan; Paul Edginton, General Manager, Community and Protective Services, City of Fort Saskatchewan; John Moroz, Family of Alexandra Ollington; and Mackenzie Sorensen, MADD Canada Victim Services Manager, Western Region.

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Roadside memorial signs are a powerful way to honour victims and to remind motorists about the tragic and lasting consequences of impaired driving. MADD Canada thanks Alexandra’s mother, Maria Popiwchak, for her courage, and the city of Fort Saskatchewan for its support in establishing the roadside memorial sign.

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For more information on how MADD Canada supports victims and survivors of impaired driving, click here.

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For more information, contact: 
Arielle Nkongmeneck, MADD Canada Communications Manager, 1-800-665-6233 ext. 240 or [email protected]

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