LIVID! Learning, Insights & Voices on Impaired Driving

Episode 06: Rebecca’s Legacy — Turning Grief Into Purpose After Impaired Driving Loss

What happens after the funeral is over… and the world expects you to move on? In Episode 6 of LIVID! (Learning, Insights, and Voices on Impaired Driving), host Amanda Bickell speaks with Connie Beatty, a fellow bereaved mother she met through MADD Canada Victim Services. Like Amanda, Connie’s life was permanently divided into before and after when an impaired driver killed her 22-year-old daughter, Rebecca, and her friend Anastasia on October 3, 2021. That day Rebecca had plans with her friend. They went for sushi. They stopped at Dairy Queen for Blizzards. They never got to eat them. Just minutes later, an impaired driver crossed the centre line and crashed head-on into Rebecca’s Nissan Versa, killing both young women instantly. In this raw and deeply moving conversation, Connie shares what no parent should ever have to endure: * The moment police arrived at her door with devastating news * The trauma of not being able to say goodbye to her daughter * Planning a funeral while living in complete shock * Watching the criminal justice system unfold during a dangerous driving and impaired driving trial * Writing a victim impact statement * Supporting surviving siblings through unimaginable grief * Learning how marriage, family relationships, and identity change after traumatic loss Connie also shares how she has transformed unimaginable grief into meaningful advocacy work to honour Rebecca’s legacy.  Through her annual “Blizzard for the Girls” memorial, she invites people to buy a Blizzard in memory of Rebecca and Anastasia. Through her MADD Hatter Mother’s Day Tea Party fundraiser, she raises money and awareness for MADD Canada while encouraging safer choices around alcohol consumption. And through annual trips to celebrate Mexico’s Day of the Dead traditions, Connie found a powerful cultural model for remembering loved ones openly—something many grieving families feel is missing in North American culture. This episode explores: ✔ impaired driving awareness ✔ drunk driving prevention ✔ grieving the loss of a child ✔ surviving traumatic loss ✔ victim impact statements ✔ criminal sentencing in impaired driving cases ✔ sibling grief after loss ✔ bereaved mothers ✔ grief advocacy ✔ MADD Canada victim support ✔ healing after tragedy ✔ honouring loved ones after death Connie’s story is heartbreaking, but it’s also filled with courage, resilience, and purpose. If you’ve been impacted by impaired driving, grief, traumatic loss, or want to better understand the lifelong consequences of impaired driving fatalities, this episode is an important listen. Subscribe to LIVID! for real stories, expert insights, victim advocacy conversations, and education aimed at preventing impaired driving deaths #ImpairedDriving #DrunkDrivingAwareness #GriefPodcast #MADDCanada #VictimImpactStatement #BereavedParents #ChildLoss #RoadSafety #VictimAdvocacy #HealingAfterLoss #DayOfTheDead #PodcastInterview #TrueStories #LIVIDPodcast

Episode 05: Why Victims' Stories Don't Stop Impaired Driving

Why does impaired driving still happen after decades of heartbreaking victim stories, awareness campaigns, police crackdowns, and public outrage? In Episode 5 of LIVID: Learning, Insights, and Voices on Impaired Driving, Amanda Bickell asks a difficult question many people are afraid to say out loud: What if victim stories are not enough to create change? After losing her daughter Abbey to an impaired driver, Amanda examines why emotional appeals, memorial campaigns, tragic headlines, and pleas from grieving families have failed to end one of Canada’s deadliest preventable crimes. This episode explores: • Why cautionary tales often fail to change behaviour • Why many impaired drivers believe nothing bad will happen to them • How sentencing realities weaken deterrence • Why empathy-based messaging may miss the highest-risk offenders • Canada’s struggle between individual rights vs collective safety • Why anti-impaired-driving groups are outspent by alcohol marketing • Whether awareness campaigns can truly solve the problem • The staggering $29.25 billion annual cost of impaired driving in Canada • What every Canadian is already paying for this crisis Amanda also explores whether a different message—financial consequences, personal accountability, and collective responsibility—may be more effective than emotional appeals alone. This is not an attack on victims sharing their stories. It is a challenge to ask whether Canada has relied on the wrong strategy for too long. Because while we wait for awareness to work… More people die. More families grieve. More stories are ignored. LIVID is a Canadian podcast confronting impaired driving through grief, truth, research, justice, and solutions. Content Warning: This episode discusses death, traumatic loss, impaired driving, grief, and failures within the justice system. If this episode matters to you: • Share it • Talk about impaired driving • Intervene when someone is about to drive impaired • Call 911 when necessary Real change starts with uncomfortable conversations. References: madd.ca/pages/impaired-driving/overview/statistics/ canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/campaigns/national-impaired-driving-prevention-week.html madd.ca/pages/national-impaired-driving-prevention-week-stronger-action-needed-to-stop-impaired-driving/ rcmp.ca/en/bc/kelowna/news/2026/04/4351820#s7 wikipedia.org/wiki/Cautionary_tale share.google/Qj7dscYem9ugu1Vuk thestar.com/news/canada/life-sentence-for-incorrigible-drunk-driver/article_74764fc7-fbc9-5286-b88b-92b11e1afcf9.html canada.ca/en/parole-board/corporate/publications-and-forms/timeline-for-conditional-release.html worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/individualistic-countries helpfulprofessor.com/collectivism-vs-individualism/ cmha.ca/news/only-13-of-canadians-are-feeling-empathetic/ cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/impaired-drunk-driving-supreme-court-constitution-9.7074077 madd.ca/pages/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/MADD-Heroes-PSA-Report_Final.pdf mediaincanada.com/2021/05/31/alcohol-ad-spending-is-on-the-rise-report/ publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/dprtmntl-rslts-rprt-2023-24/hrz-hzl-en.aspx archive.news.gov.bc.ca/releases/archive/pre2001/1999/1876.asp madd.ca/pages/impaired-driving/overview/the-financial-cost-of-impaired-driving/ canada.ca/en/department-finance/services/publications/annual-financial-report/2025.html #impaireddriving #dui #canada #roadsafety #griefpodcast #justice #MADDCanada #victimrights

Episode 04: Was Justice Served? Sentencing in an Impaired Driving Death Part 2

After 967 days of waiting, the sentence was finally delivered. In Part 2 of Episode 4 of LIVID: Learning, Insights, and Voices on Impaired Driving, Amanda Bickell shares what happened in court when the man who killed her 22-year-old daughter, Abbey, was sentenced. Four and a half years in prison. A seven-year driving ban. And one question that wouldn’t go away: Was justice actually served? This episode takes you inside the final stage of sentencing—from the defence’s arguments for leniency to the judge’s reasoning, and the emotional aftermath that followed. Amanda breaks down what was said in court and challenges how justice is defined in Canada. You’ll hear:• The 11 mitigating factors presented by the defence• Why claims of remorse, addiction, and “first offence” status are so complex• How Alcohol Use Disorder was treated in sentencing• The role of media coverage—and whether public awareness is considered punishment• How sentencing principles like deterrence and denunciation are applied• Why precedent and parity may be reinforcing a system that isn’t working Amanda also explores four different types of justice—procedural, distributive, retributive, and restorative—and asks whether any of them were truly achieved. Even when the system works exactly as designed, does it actually deliver justice? If sentencing is meant to deter impaired driving and send a message that this behaviour is unacceptable, this episode asks a difficult question: If it’s working… why is this still happening? This is not just about one case. It’s about what we accept, and what needs to change. Content Note: This episode discusses impaired driving, traumatic loss, and grief. Listener discretion is advised. What you Can Do:Share this episode. Talk about impaired driving. Intervene when you see it. Call 911 if needed. Real change starts with uncomfortable conversations. REFERENCES * R. c. Walsh, 2005 https://www.canlii.org/fr/qc/qccq/doc/2005/2005canlii10072/2005canlii10072.html [https://www.canlii.org/fr/qc/qccq/doc/2005/2005canlii10072/2005canlii10072.html] * Government of British Columbia. Alcohol and drug related driving prohibitions and suspensions https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/roadsafetybc/prohibitions/alcohol [https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/roadsafetybc/prohibitions/alcohol] * Northcote, J. & Livingston, M. (2011) “Accuracy of Self-Reported Drinking” https://doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agr138 [https://doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agr138] * Celestine, N. (2020) Prosocial Behavior https://positivepsychology.com/prosocial-behavior/ [https://positivepsychology.com/prosocial-behavior/] * PIHL Law Corp. Drunk Driving Not Just a Criminal Problem https://pihl.ca/drunk-driving-not-just-a-criminal-problem/ [https://pihl.ca/drunk-driving-not-just-a-criminal-problem/] * Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) https://iiobc.ca/media/iio-concludes-investigation-into-a-july-2023-motor-vehicle-incident-in-burnaby-2023-201/ [https://iiobc.ca/media/iio-concludes-investigation-into-a-july-2023-motor-vehicle-incident-in-burnaby-2023-201/] * Nesbit, Ben. CTV News https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/she-would-be-furious-this-is-how-her-life-ended-mother-of-woman-killed-in-crash-with-suspected-impaired-driver-speaks-out/ [https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/she-would-be-furious-this-is-how-her-life-ended-mother-of-woman-killed-in-crash-with-suspected-impaired-driver-speaks-out/] * RCMP Press Release https://bc-archives.rcmp.ca/ViewPage641e.html [https://bc-archives.rcmp.ca/ViewPage641e.html] * Nesbitt, Ben. CTV News (Guilty Plea) https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/man-pleads-guilty-in-impaired-crash-that-killed-woman-in-burnaby-bc/ [https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/man-pleads-guilty-in-impaired-crash-that-killed-woman-in-burnaby-bc/] * Maragos, Demetra. CTV News (Sentencing) https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/parents-worst-nightmare-victims-mother-speaks-at-sentencing-for-fatal-bc-crash/ [https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/parents-worst-nightmare-victims-mother-speaks-at-sentencing-for-fatal-bc-crash/] * Steacy, Lisa & Maragos, Demetra. CTV News (Sentence Outcome) https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/bc-man-sentenced-to-4-years-in-prison-for-crash-that-killed-woman/ [https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/bc-man-sentenced-to-4-years-in-prison-for-crash-that-killed-woman/] * Government of Canada. Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/rfc-dlc/ccrf-ccdl/ [https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/rfc-dlc/ccrf-ccdl/] * Criminal Code of Canada, s. 718.2(b) https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-718.2.html [https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-718.2.html] * Wikipedia. Justice https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice] * Kruse Law. Sentencing for Manslaughter in Canada https://www.kruselaw.ca/blog/sentencing-for-manslaughter/ [https://www.kruselaw.ca/blog/sentencing-for-manslaughter/] * Government of Canada. Recidivism Among Impaired Drivers https://www.canlii.org/en/commentary/doc/2011CanLIIDocs627 [https://www.canlii.org/en/commentary/doc/2011CanLIIDocs627]

Episode 03 - Was Justice Served? Sentencing in an Impaired Driving Death Part 1

On March 12, 2026, the man who killed Abbey was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison and a 7-year driving ban. After 967 days of waiting, the case was over. But instead of closure… there were more questions. In this first part of a two-episode series, Amanda takes you inside the courtroom to break down how sentencing for impaired driving causing death works in Canada—step by step. This episode focuses on the Crown’s arguments, explaining: * What the offender was legally convicted of * What “driving over 80” actually means * How Canadian sentencing principles (Criminal Code s. 718) guide decisions * Why punishment is NOT a sentencing principle in Canada * The role of denunciation and deterrence in impaired driving cases * Why driving is legally considered a privilege, not a right * How courts assess aggravating factors like extreme intoxication, dangerous driving, and prior behaviour * How case law shapes sentencing outcomes You’ll also hear the emotional reality behind the legal process: 👉 Why understanding the system doesn’t always bring peace 👉 Why “justice” feels complicated—even when the system works as designed This episode offers a rare and powerful perspective: A victim’s family member explaining the legal reasoning behind a sentence they must live with. If you’ve ever asked: * Why are impaired driving sentences in Canada so low? * How do judges decide sentencing in impaired driving causing death cases? * Does the justice system truly deter impaired driving? This episode will give you answers—and raise important new questions. ⚠️ Content warning: This episode discusses impaired driving, traumatic loss, and graphic injury. 🎧 The Next Episode, will cover the defence arguments, the judge’s decision, and whether justice was truly served. 📚 References Canada, Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46 (ss. 718, 320.12) https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/page-121.html [https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/page-121.html] https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/page-46.html#h-121299 [https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/page-46.html#h-121299] R v Suter, 2018 SCC 34 https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/2018/2018scc34/2018scc34.html [https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/2018/2018scc34/2018scc34.html] R v Macleod, 2022 BCPC 297 https://www.canlii.org/en/bc/bcpc/doc/2022/2022bcpc297/2022bcpc297.html [https://www.canlii.org/en/bc/bcpc/doc/2022/2022bcpc297/2022bcpc297.html] R v MacMunn, 2025 ONSC 5884 https://www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/doc/2025/2025onsc5884/2025onsc5884.html [https://www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/doc/2025/2025onsc5884/2025onsc5884.html] BC Motor Vehicle Act, s.148(1) https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_05#section148 [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96318_05#section148] 🔎 Keywords impaired driving Canada, DUI sentencing Canada, impaired driving causing death, criminal code sentencing Canada, drunk driving laws Canada, victim impact justice, deterrence vs punishment, Canadian court sentencing, DUI fatal crash Canada, justice system explained

Episode 02b – My Victim Impact Statement

What does a victim impact statement in a Canadian court actually sound like? When someone is killed by an impaired driver in Canada, families may speak during a criminal sentencing hearing to describe the real consequences of drunk driving and impaired driving. In this episode of LIVID: Learning, Insights, and Voices on Impaired Driving, host Amanda Bickell shares the victim impact statement she delivered in court after the impaired driver who killed her 22-year-old daughter, Abbey, plead guilty. On February 25, 2026, more than two and 1/2 years after Abbey’s death, Amanda stood in a Vancouver courtroom and publicly described the impact of losing her child. This episode is a recording of that statement. It is deeply personal and emotionally difficult. Amanda recounts her last moments with Abbey, the morning police came to the door, and the devastating responsibilities that follow the sudden death of a child. She describes the reality of traumatic grief, the decisions families must make in the aftermath of a fatal crash, and how a single act of impaired driving can fracture lives, families, and communities forever. The statement also reflects on the life Abbey lived: her strength, values, friendships, and the many possibilities that were taken from her when she was killed. Through this testimony, the courtroom heard not just about a fatal collision, but about a daughter, sister, friend, and young woman whose future was stolen by someone else’s decision to drive impaired. Amanda speaks about the lasting effects of traumatic loss, the pieces of life that are completely destroyed, the pieces that remain but are forever broken, and the ongoing work of learning to live with grief that never ends. This episode contains the full victim impact statement as read in court, shared with the hope that listeners will better understand the real consequences of impaired driving. If hearing this story helps even one person decide never to drive impaired, to stop someone else from doing so, or to report a suspected impaired driver, then Abbey’s story may help make the world just a little safer. Listener discretion is advised. This episode discusses traumatic loss, grief, and the death of a child.