Jon Tiessen was hit head-on by an impaired driver while driving home from watching a hockey
game, changing his life forever. Sandra LaRose lost her daughter to distracted driving, spurring her
commitment to fight for change.
MPI’s Friends For Life speaker series is an annual two-week event during which Jon, his sister
Rosalie Finch, and Sandra will share their stories with 20 schools across the province. This year’s
tour begins today and will include stops in Hamiota, Carberry, Powerview, Erickson, and Winnipeg.
Jon, Rosalie, and Sandra’s stories will show young Manitobans how each choice made behind the
wheel has a consequence by speaking to how their lives were touched by speeding, distracted, and
impaired driving – the three major contributing factors to deaths on Manitoba roads.
“Choices have the power to take you anywhere you want to go,” said Jon when talking about the
collision that changed his life. “But choices also have the power to disrupt and even derail the goals
and plans of your family, your friends, and those you don’t even know. Make good choices.”
“It takes a strong person to talk about the most traumatic thing they have endured, and we are so
grateful to have these survivors talk to Manitoba teens through the Friends For Life Speaker
Series about dangerous driving behaviours and the consequences of those choices,” said Maria
Campos, Vice President & Chief Customer and Product Officer. “These speakers are taking a
devastating experience and using it to advocate for change, to help prevent similar tragedies from
happening to others. Unfortunately, the data shows far too many people are having to deal with
tragedy and loss from preventable incidents on our roadways, so these conversations are vitally
important.”
MPI statistics show that teens are at higher risk for collision, injuries, and fatalities, which makes
the Friends For Life program an invaluable tool to help reach youth and change dangerous driving
behaviours at the time that they are most vulnerable on the roads:
- Young Manitobans are 2.4 times more likely to be involved in a severe collision involving
alcohol impairment than other age groups. - On average, 41 youth per year are injured in speed-related collisions in Manitoba.
- 49 people were killed in distracted driving crashes in Manitoba in 2024
- There were 2,951 collisions in Manitoba where speed was a factor in 2024.
- There were 175 collisions in Manitoba involving impairment in 2024.
- There were 91 fatalities on Manitoba roadways in 2024, and 60 so far in 2025.
About the 2025 Friends For Life speakers:
Jon Tiessen and Rosalie Finch
Jon and a friend were at his sister’s apartment watching the Canada vs Finland hockey game in
February 1998. On their way home, an impaired driver swerved into their lane at over 120
kilometres per hour and collided with them head-on. Jon suffered severe head trauma. Through
numerous medical challenges, he is now a physiotherapist who specializes in treating people with
head injuries.
Rosalie has stayed by her brother’s side. She saw her brother on life support and his journey of
recovery afterwards. Her support helped Jon navigate his experience. Rosalie speaks first-hand to
how the consequences of impaired driving do not only touch the injured person, but can have
rippling affects through an entire family.
Sandra LaRose
Sandra’s life was changed forever in one moment. Her 16-year-old daughter, Kailynn, was struck
by a train while distracted by her phone. Kailynn fought for her life for six days, and died from
severe head trauma. Kailynn’s story is real, heartbreaking, and demonstrates the devastating
consequences of distracted driving. Sandra founded Sharing Kailynn’s Sunshine Foundation Inc., a
non-profit organization designed to share Kailynn’s giving nature, and she is a passionate road and
rail safety advocate.
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For more information, please contact:
Manitoba Public Insurance
Media Relations Unit
204-985-7300
[email protected]