A Waterloo community leader killed by an impaired driver seven years ago is being remembered with a new roadside memorial. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada unveiled a sign Friday honouring Leanne Holland Brown, who was the dean of students at Wilfrid Laurier University. The sign, located along Central Street in Waterloo, reads: “In memory of Leanne Holland Brown.” Holland Brown was walking on a sidewalk outside MacGregor Public School in April 2019 when she was struck by a vehicle. She died from her injuries. The driver, Ronald Rees, was later sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to impaired driving causing death. He was found to have high levels of THC in his system at the time of the crash. Holland Brown’s husband, Ken Brown, and their sons were at Friday’s unveiling. “I’m just hoping that we don’t have to put up too many more of these signs,” Brown said. “Hopefully this sign does the job that we hope it’s going to do.” MADD Canada paid for the memorial sign, which the organization says is the first of its kind in Waterloo Region. “The fact that we have to do these signs is really upsetting to us,” said Dawn Regan, chief operating officer of MADD Canada. Regan said the memorials are intended to honour victims while also drawing attention to the ongoing issue of impaired driving. “Impaired driving happens every hour. There are nine charges an hour in Canada,” she said. Waterloo Regional Police Chief Mark Crowell also attended the unveiling. Crowell said Holland Brown was a friend, making her death particularly personal. “We all carry memories of her kindness,” he said. Crowell added that police are working with regional and municipal partners, and other levels of government to improve road safety. “It’s not just enforcement. It’s creating awareness, helping people make the safe choice always,” he said. In addition to his six-year prison sentence, Rees was prohibited from driving for 10 years following his release. Brown said he hopes the memorial will serve as a reminder to make safe choices behind the wheel. While he believes stronger penalties for impaired driving are important, he said he is also trying to move forward after losing his wife. “I need to move on with my life,” Brown said. “And that’s part of the whole forgiveness of moving on when you face a tragedy like this.” The memorial is intended to turn a devastating loss into an opportunity to raise awareness and potentially prevent future impaired-driving deaths.
