2009 Annual Report - Edmonton Community Foundation

MAKING OUR
STREETS SAFER
MEMORIAL & TRAFFIC SAFETY FUND
We’ve all seen them – the cluster of
flowers, stuffed animals and photos
that mark the spot where someone
has died in a traffic accident. These
are sad reminders that our roads can
be dangerous and deadly. Roadside
memorials have become a common
practice that raises concerns for city
and police officials. The memorials,
while heartfelt and poignant, can
themselves result in safety challenges
for pedestrians, motorists and the
individuals who set them up and can
be distracting to drivers.
The City of Edmonton recognizes the
need for family and friends to grieve
and memorialize their loved ones.
To provide an option to the roadside
memorials the Memorial and Traffic
Safety Fund was created at Edmonton
Community Foundation. The intent
of the fund is to protect the lives and
safety of those travelling in the greater
Edmonton area by supporting such
activities as traffic safety education,
engineering, enforcement and
evaluation.
The Fund was set up under the
auspices of the Office of Traffic Safety,
a partnership between the City of
Edmonton and the Edmonton Police
Service. Gerry Shimko is the executive
director of the OTS and the founder of
the Fund. He observes that if a loved
one is lost from cancer or other illness
there are charities to which a gift can
be made in the name of the deceased.
But what if a loved one is lost in a traffic
accident The Memorial and Traffic
Safety Fund provides an opportunity
to remember a loved one and also to
contribute to research and activities
that may help prevent such accidents
in the future.
Along with its collaborative work with
communities on traffic safety, the OTS
funds a research chair in urban traffic
safety at the University of Alberta.
This position allows for advanced
research in traffic safety issues.
Funding for the chair comes in part
through automated photo enforcement
fines. In the future, the Memorial &
Traffic Safety Fund could be used
to provide scholarships to graduate
students interested in pursuing studies
in traffic safety.
20 Years of Giving 19