Recovering addict and human trafficking survivor calls northern OPP officer her 'hero'
Three years ago, during a moment of suffering from post-traumatic stress, Dre crashed her car into some trees on Municipal Road between Timmins and Iroquois Falls.
The responding officer, Const. Graham MacGregor didn’t just ticket her. Upon learning more about her past, he connected her with services.
It made all the difference in the world.
"I’m a grateful, recovering addict and a trafficking survivor,” Dre said.
“The help I received was weeks away of being unattainable. If it wasn’t for an advocate, I would be another statistic.”
“When all other efforts in trying to help Dre didn’t seem to work at that point, officer MacGregor was her lifeline," said her father, Donald.
For all his support in the days, weeks and months after Dre's collision, she called MacGregor her hero and nominated him for an award.
"You made a difference, and now she’s making a difference," said Mark Baxter, president of the Police Association of Ontario.
“Her resiliency is something to be admired," said MacGregor.
Dre said she is sacrificing her anonymity and going public because she wants others not to feel ashamed to ask for help.
“My goal is that nobody feels alone in this journey,” she said.
“I want to give people hope. I want people to find their way of finding their way out and every recovery is different."
John Cerasuolo, president of Ontario Provincial Police Association, said it's important for people like Dre to speak up about the good things that happen during their encounters with police, to help change the negative narrative that often surrounds police.
It's why the Police Association of Ontario hosted the award ceremony at the South Porcupine Detachment. Congratulatory words also came in from the provincial government and the mayor of Timmins.
MacGregor said meeting Dre has also changed him.
"On a more regular basis, I find myself taking time to be kind to people outside of work, as well, not just because it’s part of my job but just because in society, I think we need to be a little bit kinder to each other,” he said.
MacGregor is the winner of the 2022 'On-Duty Difference Maker' Award, not to mention, the winner of Dre's and her family's everlasting gratitude.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Still so much love between us,' Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Courteney Cox says her partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in therapy
Courteney Cox's longtime partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in a therapy session.