It has been 10 years since four-year-old Alexa Middelaer was killed by an impaired driver in Delta.

It also marks the 10th anniversary of Alexa鈥檚 Team.

Alexa鈥檚 Team was formed in 2008, the year of Alexa鈥檚 death, as an anti-impaired driving program to recognize dedicated police officers throughout B.C. who are committed to reducing the number of drivers on the road affected by alcohol or drugs.

In the past 10 years, Alexa鈥檚 Team has grown from 26 members to 2,400 new and returning RCMP and Municipal police officers from all corners of the province.

91大黄鸭 RCMP Municipal Traffic Section鈥檚 Cst. Bradley Smith is a 2017 Alexa鈥檚 Team Regional All-Star Top Cop.

Recognized for his outstanding efforts of removing 91 impaired drivers from 91大黄鸭鈥檚 roadways in 2017, Smith addressed his peers, dignitaries, special guests and Alexa Middelaer鈥檚 parents, Laurel and Michael Middelaer, during the annual ceremony at Quigley Elementary School.

鈥淲hat better way to honour the memory of a precious little girl, Alexa, than to recognize the tireless efforts of those who strive to keep our roads safe, twenty-four hours a day,鈥� said Smith. 鈥淎lexa鈥檚 legacy is one of impact, of real impact, and we have the Middlelaer family to thank for that. Alexa鈥檚 memory is honoured everyday at detachments and police stations across B.C. There is not a day that goes by where her name is not spoken.

鈥淟aurel and Michael, we will continue to honour Alexa鈥檚 memory not just in words, but in action, every day and every night all over BC, one road block at a time, one car at a time.鈥�

All of the officers who earned a place on Alexa鈥檚 Team over the years, did so because of their diligence in removing impaired drivers from BC roads.

Alexa鈥檚 Bus, the province鈥檚 mobile road safety unit (MRSU) is another initiative that Alexa鈥檚 family advocated for and saw come to fruition. Provincial anti-impaired driving police initiatives are supported by Alexa鈥檚 Bus, which has been deployed 293 times in communities around the province since its launch in 2014 as an education and enforcement tool.

The RID 911 program, supported by communities, police services, MADD Canada and other road safety organizations, is another anti-impaired driving initiative that encourages the public to call 911 to report suspected impaired drivers, and has also been effective in helping police remove impaired drivers.

Overall, more than 86,534 drivers affected by alcohol or drugs have been removed from the streets, roads and highways of this province by Alexa鈥檚 Team members since 2008.

MADD Canada, ICBC, the RCMP and supporters of Alexa鈥檚 Team are gathering this spring at four events held around the province to recognize those officers named to the 2017 Alexa鈥檚 Team and to celebrate ten years of hard work.

Events were held in Metro Vancouver, Victoria, 91大黄鸭 and Prince George where officers will be greeted and personally thanked for their tireless work fighting impaired driving by Alexa鈥檚 family, road safety organizations and community leaders.

To report a typo, email: edit@kelownacapnews.com.

newstips@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .