Delburne resident Kathy Wilson never imagined attending a Mothers Against Drunk Driving candlelight vigil.

But seven months ago, circumstances would lead her to Saturday night’s sombre occasion at St. Luke’s Anglican Church in downtown Red Deer.

On April 17, Wilson’s 15-year-old daughter Cassandra was killed by a suspected impaired driver in a head-on collision near Delburne.

When Cassandra’s name was called in tribute, Wilson walked to the front of the sanctuary to light a white candle in memory of her only daughter.

With tears streaming down her face, Wilson returned to her seat where three friends comforted her.

“I’m finding it difficult,” said Wilson outside the church after the hour-long vigil attended by 55 people. “I feel their pain as my own.”

But Wilson said she is glad she attended and hopes her husband will come in the future.

“It’s a night where you would like to honour your daughter and the others who had died so senselessly.”

Wilson has also attended every court appearance made by 41-year-old Delburne area resident Neil Doucet, who is charged with impaired driving causing death. He remains in custody and will face a preliminary hearing on June 4 and 5, Wilson said.

“We look around the church and see how many people are hurting,” said Carol Weisenburger, a victim service advocate who told her friend Kathy about the vigil. “We’re not alone.”

She came to know Wilson through the Delburne fire department they both volunteer with.

A month before Cassandra’s death, the family home suffered a severe fire. It has since been restored thanks to donors and volunteers.

“This will be Kathy’s first Christmas without her daughter,” Weisenburger said. “We feel for her loss.”

Peggy Gougeon, president of MADD’s Red Deer chapter, wishes she could tell Wilson it will get easier with time.

She can’t.

Gougeon’s nine-year-old sister was killed by a drunk driver in 1978. “The pain is still there,” she said.

Almost 60 candles were lit at the 16th annual ceremony in memory of loved ones killed by impaired drivers or suspected impaired drivers over the past few decades.

Gougeon said four or five names were new to the list, from families who decided they wanted to take part in the ceremony.

She expressed frustration that some people still aren’t getting the message about the dangers of impaired driving.

On Friday night, three suspected impaired drivers were nabbed shortly before the launching of the annual holiday Red Ribbon campaign.

MADD volunteers, church members and others joined RCMP for the four-hour promotion at 67th Street near the Hwy 11 overpass.

MADD will continue to hand out red ribbons over the coming weeks as a reminder to drive safe and sober.

To help out at upcoming holiday checkstops, call MADD at 403-347-9922.

Contact Laura Tester at ltester@reddeeradvocate.com