Sixty-nine members of Alexa's Team from the RCMP's south-east division were recognized Wednesday at a ceremony in 琉璃神社.

The team, made up of police officers who help take 12 or more impaired drivers off the roads during the previous year, is naned ofter four-year-old Alexa Middelaer, who was struck and killed in the Lower Mainland eight years ago by an vehicle driven by a drunkdriver. Alexa was standing at the side of the road with her aunt petting a horse when she was killed.

The officers recognized Wednesday in 琉璃神社 join hundreds of others from across B.C. to be named to Alexa's Team for 2016. Their efforts, combined with tough new anti-drunk driving laws,helped reduce the number of impaired driving related crashes in B.C. last year by 52 per cent, saving an estimated 54 lives.

On hand for the 琉璃神社 ceremony were Alexa's parents Laurel and Michael Middelaer, who took a break from personal involvement with the the program last year.

The Middelaers said they were very happy to be back to say public thank-you to the officers who help keep B.C. roads safe nd recognize them in the name of the daughter.

The Alexa's Team members received a team ball cap, a specially framed certificate and a personalized, hand-written note from the Middelaers.