More than 600 graduating students from across Greater Sudbury will gather at the United Steelworkers Hall on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 to hear a very important safety message – don’t drink and drive.

Confederation Secondary School’s OSAID chapter will host this city-wide safe graduation event in conjunction with local community organizations. OSAID (Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving) raises awareness about the perils of drinking and driving and promotes ways to reduce death and injury.

Students will learn about the real-life consequences of impaired driving through powerful and poignant presentations.

“Students need to recognize the impact of impaired driving,” said Ashleigh McBain, Confederation’s OSAID teacher representative. “They also need to understand how alcohol affects them physically and, more importantly, how it clouds their judgment.”

Staff from the Ministry of Transportation will be on site to introduce an interactive teaching tool that tracks levels of intoxication and the rate at which our metabolism processes alcohol.

The day’s events will conclude with a live “chain of life” ceremony, which represents the students’ pledge to make safe and smart decisions.

“Graduation is a time for celebration and we encourage everyone to act responsibly,” said Norm Blaseg, Director of Education for Rainbow District School Board. “It’s important to be proactive and provide students with the information they need to stay safe.”

The event is being made possible by the following community organizations and corporate sponsors: Sudbury Road Safety Committee, Transportation Maintenance and Technical Association, Greater Sudbury Fire, EMS and Police, Sudbury and District Health Unit, Topper’s Pizza, GK Services, Ontario Ministry of Transportation, City of Greater Sudbury, Costco Wholesale, and Action Sudbury: Citizens Against Impaired Driving.