Central Okanagan

Erik Madsen is getting a reputation for creating short videos with a poignant message.

Photo: Erik Madsen - still from video

On the heels of productions concerning the dangers of bullying and his award winning anti drinking and driving video, Madsen has produced a pedestrian safety video.

The 30 second video titled "Be Seen" was shot recently in Lake Country where two pedestrians have been killed over the last two years.

Yew-Loong Yee of Calgary was killed in October of last year while 15-year-old George Elliot student Josie Evans was killed in January, 2010.

Both incidents occurred on Bottom Woods Lake Road.

Evans was killed about 4:30 p.m. as she walked home from school on a rainy, foggy afternoon.

Madsen, who came up with the idea for the video says Evans would have been a member of his graduating class.

He says he didn't know her as well as others in the class, but adds many of the more than 40 community members who took part in the video were thinking of Evans during the filming.

Madsen worked with the RCMP on the video to raise awareness of pedestrian safety while walking.

The District of Lake Country and the Lake Country Rotary Club also partnered on the project.

Following Evans' death, the Rotary Club of Lake Country purchased 900 reflective armbands at a cost of $2,700 and donated them to George Elliot High School.

As part of this latest campaign, the Rotary Club has donated another 6,000 reflective armbands to be distributed throughout the community. 

Madsen says the video not only shows the importance of being seen while walking along roadways, it also speaks to the importance of walking on the proper side of the road and the dangers of wearing headphones while walking.