Six months ago, Manwell was having a crisis. Burnt out from her job as a nurse, she decided to leave the profession for good. She quit and then immediately enrolled in . . .

an office administration program at Algonquin College.

It was then that she found what she calls her “earth-angel” giving her an opportunity to work at Quail Creek as their Health and Wellness Manager. “The job I’m in now is where I want to stay forever.”

She wanted to keep working, anything to prevent the burnout from settling in, and keep her mind busy. She saw an ad in The Equity for MADD Pontiac and quickly applied.

She thought, “Let’s do MADD too. Let’s just jump right in. I needed to figure out something with my life. I needed to find purpose again,” she said.

“I have been a lifelong resident of the Pontiac. A nurse for 11 years now. After reaching a crossroad in my career, I was really looking for change and a way to engage with the community. It was fate when I opened up The Equity and found an ad to volunteer for MADD Canada,” she wrote in an email.

The application and interview process was rigorous, but by the end she was awarded the volunteer position of Community Leader for MADD Pontiac.

Over the years, with a lack of volunteers, MADD Pontiac has been a dormant organization. As a community leader, one of Manwell’s key jobs will be building the organization back up and reintroducing it to the community. She will also spearhead the volunteer program.

As to why MADD, she recalled the impact that Pontiac Students Against Impaired Driving (PSAID) had on her when she attended PHS.

“I remember the impact, she said. “I wanted to become a part of that again.”

The group is actively looking for volunteers and in particular, is looking for a School Programs Facilitator for Western Quebec.

Her current project is the Red Ribbon campaign running from Nov. 1 to Jan. 3. “MADD Canada distributes millions of red ribbons for Canadians to tie on their vehicles, keychains, purses and backpacks in support of sober driving over the holiday season,” Manwell wrote in an email to The Equity.

You can find these red ribbons at Dépanneur Thompson in Portage du Fort. She is actively looking for new locations in the Pontiac. All donations raised go towards impaired driving victims and survivors, youth services, education and public awareness.

Though it may be a small gesture, “These red ribbons are just a reminder. It flags them. Even if we get someone to have a second thought about drinking and driving we have had an impact,” she said.

If you are looking to volunteer or donate or if you have a business and would like to distribute the MADD red ribbons you can reach out to maddpontiac@gmail.com, go online at maddchapters.ca/Pontiac/ or by phone at 1-800-665-6233 Ext. 363.

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