OTTAWA, April 29, 2016 –
Operation Lifesaver (OL), Canada’s national rail safety program, today announced Debbie Young of Sydney, NS is the recipient of the Roger Cyr award for her railway safety efforts that have helped diminish crossing and trespassing incidents in Nova Scotia.
This year’s RSW theme was See Tracks? Think! and Ms. Young has promoted the public’s awareness of rail safety through her work as an active member of Operation Lifesaver Nova Scotia Provincial Steering Committee for over 10 years
“Debbie is a motivating person to have on our committee works hard and always tries to create a positive ambiance and welcoming atmosphere. She epitomizes all the good things that we as an OL Committee are trying to work towards and she is a deserving candidate for the Roger Cyr award in 2016. Debbie in addition to her work with OL is a volunteer in a number of community charitable organizations in Cape Breton Regional Municipality.”
As an Administrative Assistant for Sydney Coal Railway (Logistec Corporation) and the Chair of the NSOL Steering Committee, Debbie Young holds a special place within the Operation Lifesaver family.
Debbie has taken part on countless projects carrying the Operation Lifesaver rail safety message to the public, presentations to local schools and community groups, ATV associations, organizing crossing blitzes, engaging the local media and most notably organizing the bi-annual “Operation No Whistle” mock crossing incidents in New Waterford with BEC School. Debbie has also led a number of initiatives with local law enforcement agencies to address trespassing issues.
“We as a committee have had the privilege of working with Debbie for over the past 10 years and can vouch for her determination, hard work and effectiveness at delivering the OL Rail Safety message to Sydney, the Town of New Waterford and across all of Cape Breton and Nova Scotia. For more than a decade Debbie has worked tirelessly as a committee member and more recently as the chair of the NSOL committee.”
Debbie is not just a presenter, but an ambassador of rail safety not only here in Nova Scotia, but across Canada.
About the Roger Cyr award
Named after the founder of Operation Lifesaver in Canada, the Roger Cyr Award for Public-Rail Safety began in 1981 and is a joint initiative of Operation Lifesaver, the
Railway Association of Canada and Transport Canada. The award is open to all active Operation Lifesaver partners and volunteers who undertook efforts to improve railway safety and encouraged others to follow suit throughout 2014.
About Operation Lifesaver
Established in Canada in 1981, Operation Lifesaver is a national public-rail safety program sponsored by Transport Canada and the Railway Association of Canada. Through partnerships with provincial safety councils, police, railways, the trucking industry and community groups, Operation Lifesaver is dedicated to saving lives by educating Canadians about the hazards surrounding highway/railway crossings and trespassing on railway property.
Operation Lifesaver spreads its motto of “Look, Listen and Live” through its many year-long initiatives that complement PRSW, including
interactive kids websites,
online new and professional driver education modules, and social media outreach on
Twitter,
Facebook and now
Instagram. Additionally, OL’s network of volunteers conducts more than 500 rail safety presentations and activities across Canada each year.
OperationLifesaver.ca
Facebook: OpLifesaver
Twitter: OpLifesaver
Instagram: OpLifesaver