Brochure - SOPAC: Save Our People Action Committee

SOPAC
Save our People
Action Committee
Helping to Prevent Moose Vehicle Accidents
SOPAC “Save our People Action Committee”
Who is involved?
Why SOPAC was formed
Some of our members:
Eugene Nippard, Grand Falls-Windsor
Lucy Stoyles, Mount Pearl
Linda Bishop, Goulds
Stuart Pearce, Port aux Basques
Roy Dodge, Torbay
Tanya Bixby, Gander
Shane Wheeler, Embree
Jennifer Pilgrim, Grand Falls-Windsor
Michael Parsons, Pasadena
Tony Simon, Grand Falls-Windsor
Alec, Kellie & Kristina Feltham, Sandy Point, Norris Arm
Ben & Helen Bellows, Mount Moriah, Corner Brook
Earl Hussey, Mount Moriah, Corner Brook
Doreen Coffey, Cape Shore
Susan Philpott, Fleur de Lys
Reg & Margaret Cooze, Hare bay
Myles Ford, Gander
John Neil, Clarkes Beach
Jean Pike, Port de Grave
Is more commonly known as SOPAC and was officially formed on
July 7th 2009, at the initiative of Eugene Nippard, Grand FallsWindsor in the central part of Newfoundland. Mr. Nippard was
lucky to survive a moose vehicle collision and this experience
motivated him to take on the need to highlight the problem and
move to a solution.
Mr. Nippard was inspired to take action in the spring of 2009
after listening to local radio station VOCM. The open line
discussion was all about moose vehicle accidents. Reports
were in that yet another accident had been reported. This time
4 people were involved. It was well known that hundreds of
people in this province have been injured or lost their lives in
accidents over the years. Mr. Nippard has had 6 of his family
members also involved in past accidents with one of his cousins
now paralyzed and in a wheel chair. He was aware of another
accident wherein a friend and three others from the central
region were involved. From then Mr. Nippard took the step to
do the research and move forward with a group of like minded
individuals who also needed a voice and from this came SOPAC.
How SOPAC was formed
SOPAC was formed with the power of the people and the
support of our provincial media network. It all started with a
few of the key people calling in to the major open line programs
and the word was out on the need to organize. Mr. Nippard
put his name and number forward as the focal point of contact
and since then his telephone line has not stopped ringing.
From here the name SOPAC was born and SOPAC has mobilized
to educate on the problem, educate the people and driving
population and lobby our elected officials to hear what we are
saying and to take action.
Moose Vehicle Collisions
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
RNC MVC
Reports
RCMP MVC
Reports
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
SOPAC is made up of the following management committee
with members from across Newfoundland. The committee
members are from all walks of life. Most of the members are
moose vehicle accident victims or have had loved ones killed or
injured, the rest are citizens who are very concerned about the
seriousness of the problem while driving our highways.
• Alec & Kellie Feltham who had their son Konrad killed at just
17 years of age.
• Kristina Feltham who had her brother, Konrad, killed at 17
years of age.
• Ben Bellows, a carpenter and musician who is now totally
disabled (paralyzed).
• Linda Bishop, Registered Nurse, disabled.
• Eugene Nippard, Technician Bell Aliant, moose accident
victim.
• Lucy Stoyles, a council member of Mount Pearl, whose
daughter was seriously injured.
• Stuart Pearce of Port aux Basques who had a friend killed in a
moose vehicle accident.
• Tanya Bixby, Gander whose sister was in a moose vehicle
accident.
• Doreen Coffey, Cape Shore had a cousin seriously hurt.
• Michael Parsons, Pasadena a retired supervisor with wildlife.
Plus numerous others around the Province, many who drive the
highway regularly and are very concerned about the number of
moose they see on the roads and the overall number of moose
vehicle accidents on our highways.
www.sopacnl.com
Act of
Save Our People
Not Our Moose
What SOPAC is trying to achieve?
• To become the voice of victims
• To keep awareness in the public domain on the dangers
moose pose on our highways
• To ensure victims of moose vehicle accidents obtain the
support they need, both financially and socially
• 50% reduction in the moose vehicle collision rate within 5
years
Act of Government
Not Act of God!
How can you voice your concern?
You can go to our website and visit VOICE YOUR CONCERN
For a full list of options on how to take action
Contact your Member of House of Assembly
By emailing, calling or writing them
For a full ist of MHAs visit
http://www.assembly.nl.ca/members/cms/membersdirectlines.asp
Key ways to achieve
#1: W
ith at least 125,000 moose in the province, we need to
protect the driving public by erecting moose fencing with or
without overpasses and underpasses.
#2: R
emove nuisance moose by installing proper signage
displaying a 24 hour emergency number to call.
#3: Issue more licences without gender restrictions, and ensure
these licences are close to highways and problematic areas.
#4: L ight up highways where possible especially major
intersections.
#5: C
ontinue with brush cutting along our highways, remove the
brush and plant grass.
#6: E rect flashing lights on signs to detect animals in the area to
warn travelling public.
#7: E nforce a reduced speed at night between dusk and dawn.
Statistics on Moose in
Newfoundland and Labrador
Key Contacts
Premier Kathy Dunderdale
709.729.3570 / [email protected]
Minister of Environment Hon. Ross Wiseman
709.729-2577 / [email protected]
Minister of Transportation Hon. Tom Hedderson
709.729-3679 / [email protected]
To write any Member use this address
Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8700
Prince Philip Drive
St. John’s, NL, Canada A1B 4J6
Call the Open Line Shows
On average there are over 700 moose vehicle accidents in
the province, involving several human deaths, not including
accidents under $1000 or near misses.
VOCM Open Line
Tel: 273-5211
[email protected]
Hunters have a moose kill ratio of about 73%. Out of the
33,000 licences about 20,000 may be filled. Since 40,000
calves are born each year, the resulting population is
growing.
VOCM Back Talk
Tel: 273-5211
[email protected]
VOCM Night Line
Tel: 273-5211
[email protected]
VOCM Morning Show
Tel: 726-5590
The St. John’s Morning Show
CBC Radio One
Tel: 576-5259
[email protected]
Write to your Local Newspaper
www.sopacnl.com for a full list of contacts
The map indicates approximate locations of some of the more than 700
moose-vehicle accidents taking place on our highways each year.
Vist SOPACs Website
www.sopacnl.com and go the section VOICE YOUR CONCERN
To date 28,000 people have signed our petitions
Join our facebook group – Moose fences for Newfoundland or
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=86751542694
Follow us on twitter
Check us out at www.youtube.com
Contacts: Avalon: Linda Bishop
Eastern: Lucy Stoyles Central: Eugene Nippard
Western: Stuart Pearce E: [email protected]
E: [email protected] E: [email protected] E: [email protected] T: 709-745-3265
T: 709-364-1916
T: 709-486-7373 (sopac)
T: 709-695-3149