On August 1, 2022, local teacher Glenna Pellerin received the worst phone-call of her life. Her son Brandt was driving to work on Highway 16, east of Saskatoon with another passenger when they were both seriously injured in a two vehicle head-on collision.
“As he approached Lanigan, a car drove into him head-on, killing the driver of the vehicle and leaving Brandt, and his passenger with significant, life-altering injuries,” Pellerin stated.
Following many weeks of recovery, Brandt was able to return to work; however, all of their lives were changed forever. Because of this, Pellerin wants to ensure no other family has to endure the same pain and struggles and would like to see attention brought to the subject of having the Yellowhead Highway east from Saskatoon to the Manitoba border changed into a twinned highway, adding safety measures to the busy roadway.
“Our Yellowhead Highway was established in Canada to promote trade and travel from Winnipeg to the edge of British Columbia. It spans 3500 kilometers and is both critical and beneficial for tourism and maintaining the economy. Advocating the federal and provincial governments in the past, has contributed to the funding of Yellowhead improvements,” Pellerin explained.
In conversations following her son’s collision, Pellerin realized that there are others that share her concern, and decided to do something about it and has created an official petition to present to the Saskatchewan legislature.
“Currently this stretch of highway was a high traffic volume and is dangerous for travel. Let’s be proactive with our tax dollars and put them toward saving lives instead of toward emergency response, hospital stays, rehabilitation and compensation. Help us call on the government to twin the Yellowhead Highway 16 from Bradwell to the Manitoba border.”
Copies of the petition are available to be signed at the Martensville Co-op gas station, and copies to be printed off and signed can be received by emailing news@martensvillemessenger.ca.
