Near the intersection of Highways 305 and 11 near Warman, a sign now stands with the name Sophie Schnurr to mark the spot where the 11-year-old girl was killed in an impaired-driving collision in 2018. “I want people to remember Sophie, and I want them to say her name, and I want them to think of her and make the right decision. So I’m hoping that this and her story will change some people’s minds,” said Dawn Schnurr, Sophie’s mother. Dawn Schnurr was in the car with her two daughters, Grace and Sophie, on Dec. 21, 2018, when an impaired driver speeding down the wrong side of the highway collided with their vehicle. Despite the best efforts of the first responders, Sophie was pronounced dead on the scene while Grace and Dawn sustained multiple injuries. “I drive this road, like, every day...sometimes you try to block it out...it’s hard to go through your days or just thinking about that all the time, so you just try to suppress it a lot of the time,” said Sam Schnurr, Sophie’s father. But Sam Schnurr emphasized that while this sign is a reminder of an incredibly painful memory, it serves a purpose in highlighting the impacts of impaired driving. “Just awareness in general. I think, obviously, the way things used to be decades ago and how they’ve changed over the years, like people are becoming more aware and, just the culture seems to be changing,” Sam Schnurr said. Sophie’s parents described her as a sweet and caring girl who had a passion for helping others. The 11-year-old loved to dance and had an affinity for Michael Jackson music. Sophie had hoped of become a veterinarian because the kind-hearted girl had a love for animals. “She’s the first thought in my mind when I wake up and the last stop before I go to bed at night. I just miss her so much. Watching Grace grow up...makes you wonder what their relationship would be like now and what she would be doing,” Dawn Schnurr said. Three years ago, the Schnurr family became involved with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD Canada). Dawn Schnurr said it took some time for her family to grieve before they felt ready to connect with the organization. However, Dawn described that connection as a very important one in her life. “They reached out to me obviously after the accident. And I think for myself, it was just I wasn’t quite ready...But then three years ago, we had Sophie’s name put on the monument downtown. And so ever since then, we go every year to the ceremony, and now we have this sign in her honour as well. And it’s nice to be with people that understand,” Dawn Schnurr said. In a ceremony held prior to the sign’s unveiling, many of Sophie’s loved ones spoke about their memories of the 11-year-old, and how profoundly her death has impacted the community. Also in attendance were many of the first responders who were on the scene of the collision, and the fire chief for the City of Warman, Russ Austin. “I just wanted to support the family and thank them for their courage, for putting up a sign and bringing some attention to it,” Austin said. The fire chief said even among first responders, this collision had a profound impact on his crew. “I know our first responders gave everything they had...and some of our first responders have left the service since then, just [because of] the traumatic part of that call,” Austin said. Austin added that sharing the story of the crash and the emotions involved for Sophie’s family is not easy, and he commended the Schnurrs for sharing their experience in the hopes of preventing similar tragedies for others. “For them to have the courage to step forward and say that her passing was tragic and world-changing. But by us putting up a sign on the road here, we can maybe prevent that one person who sees that sign from driving impaired and potentially save another family from experiencing the same grief,” Austin said. Dawn Schnurr said while the process has been a painful one, the sign means much more than just marking the scene of a collision. It serves as a reminder that driving impaired can have permanent and life-altering consequences. “I think a huge importance of it is, I hope that it will make people think before they get in their vehicle,” Schnurr said. She added that while the day was a difficult one, having so many loved ones around for the sign unveiling made the experience a bit easier. “It means everything. We have such an amazing support system and family. And we couldn’t have gotten through this without any of them. They all mean so much to us. And I know that this has been extremely difficult for them too. So just to have them here with us, it means everything,” Dawn Schnurr said.
