Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada, along with its Windsor and Essex County chapter, unveiled a new memorial garden at the Detroit Riverfront to pay tribute to those who have been tragically killed or injured in crashes involving alcohol, cannabis and other drugs.
Lori Kempe, Chaouki Hamka and Joe D'Angela stand at the new MADD memorial garden at the Detroit Riverfront in Windsor, Ont. on Aug. 7, 2025. (Joe D'Angela/St. Clair College)
Located at the foot of Ouellette Avenue in Dieppe Gardens, directly next to the Great Canadian Flag, the memorial is intended to be a place for reflection for families and loved ones, as well as raise awareness about the prevalence of driving while impaired by substances.
"This garden is a reminder of what's at stake when someone chooses to drive after consuming alcohol, cannabis and/or other drugs," said MADD Canada National President Tanya Hansen Pratt, whose mother, Beryl, was tragically killed by an impaired driver in 1999. "It also challenges us all to always drive sober, to speak up, and help prevent more families from suffering the same heartbreak."
The garden features benches and a commemorative plaque, and the site will continue to grow as surrounding grass and trees mature and blossom.
The project initially started 10 years ago and has finally come to fruition, thanks in large part to the commitment and tireless efforts of MADD Windsor and Essex County spokesperson, Chaouki Hamka.
"We continue to fight, we continue to raise awareness, we continue to educate," Hamka said. "And I think, for the most part, people are really starting to understand the message. I think a lot of younger people are making better and more responsible choices."
"Not only can a victim or survivor go reflect and pay respects, you also will have the public that will be reminded of the dangers and consequences of impaired driving, so it's another reminder for them not to drive impaired and to make responsible choices," Hamka added.
Hamka is a 2009 graduate of the Law and Security Administration program at St. Clair College and in 2024, was named an Alumni of Distinction.
According to Hamka, the project cost about $40,000. The College and Alumni Association contributed funds to assist with the creation of the monument, along with Caesars Windsor Cares, Windsor Port Authority, and the City of Windsor.
"In addition to our shared connection with Alumnus of Distinction Chaouki Hamka, the College and MADD Canada have another thing in common, because building awareness of important issues is certainly a form of education," said St. Clair College President Michael Silvaggi. "And the focus of MADD Canada's long-standing awareness and advocacy campaigns certainly constitutes one of the most important educational topics, spurring understanding and action by both our community and society at large."
"The donation made by our Alumni Association toward this project is a small gesture of our deep respect for MADD and its mission. But this is not just about funding. This is about solidarity and about education," said Lori Kempe, the President of the College's Alumni Association. "This monument will stand as a symbol a symbol of remembrance, of resilience, and of a community's collective commitment to change."
"We may come from many programs, many graduating classes but as alumni of St. Clair College, we are one family," Kempe said. "And when a member of that family is hurting, we all feel it. That is why we stood proudly in support of this monument not only to honour the memory of lives lost, but to contribute to a future where fewer families have to endure such pain."
Hamka said the monument will be a legacy for all organizations involved - and the entire community.
"As an alumnus, I feel even more proud, because the College does stand for what it says," Hamka said.
"It's not just a place of education, but St. Clair College is the community. It's a community of compassion, of hope, and it does give back to this community."
