Week of May 9, 2024

Children in a Car Without Seat Belts (ARCH011254)

40 years ago (May 9, 1984)

“Seat belt law is on the horizon”

Preventing fatalities or infringing on individual rights -that was the debate in the Legislative Assembly forty years ago as provincial MLAs debated the introduction of compulsory seat belt legislation. Public opinion heavily supported (80-95%) the idea of making seat belts mandatory for children aged five and under. A motion for such a law was presented in the Legislature this week forty years ago. Some MLAs suggested extending the proposed bill to make it mandatory for all Albertans to wear seat belts, but public opinion was against this, with just under half of Albertans supporting such a bill. Proponents argued mandatory seat belts for all would save hundreds of lives and millions in medical expenses. Other MLAs opposed such a measure, not wanting to regulate what people do in private vehicles. The motion failed to be voted on forty years ago this week, and debate was pushed back to another session.

30 years ago (May 12, 1994)

“A Safe Place shelter marks its 10th year of operation”

30 years ago marked the 10th anniversary of the opening of Sherwood Park’s women’s shelter, A Safe Place. It was built to serve local women and children experiencing abuse, offered a place to stay, 24-hour counselling in person and on the phone, and a community-based support group. Throughout 1993, 401 women and 505 children stayed at the 32-bed shelter. There was no anniversary party, as director Heather Richards said “How can you celebrate the need for a women’s shelter?” All that could be celebrated, she said, was the work and volunteer efforts that went into daily operations.