Operation Red Nose gears up for 30th year fighting impaired driving

Operation Red Nose is about to rev up again for the holiday season.

The annual free designated-driver program will begin offering rides Nov. 28. It runs until New Year’s Eve.

The service — now in its 30th year of operation in Manitoba — sees volunteers drive people and their vehicles home for them, after weekend parties and gatherings throughout the festive season.

Operation Red Nose is meant to combat impaired driving. The rides are free, but donations are encouraged.

“It’s the only way to get home free,” said Elisha Dacey, the program’s media liaison. “A lot of the time, people will go downtown, go to a (Winnipeg) Jets game, go to a holiday party, and they’ll bring their car, and then, you have a few and you’re a little bit tipsy.”

She said sometimes, people will choose to drive home impaired rather than leave their vehicles.

“We just want people to get home safe — we’ll come get you and your vehicle, no matter what,” said Dacey.

“We’ve all seen the statistics. Every death that happens behind the wheel of a car, because somebody was impaired, is 100 per cent preventable, so something like this just lowers those chances.”

The year’s launch was held Friday at Safety Services Manitoba’s Notre Dame Avenue office. The company is a main sponsor, along with Manitoba Public Insurance. Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries also provides support, as do other organizations.

Officials from the Winnipeg Police Service and RCMP, as well as the sponsor organizations, spoke at the launch about the program’s importance.

Last year’s Operation Red Nose, which raised $49,899 to donate to youth sports and community programs in the province, provided 2,450 rides across Manitoba, with 1,418 volunteers.

The program is set to operate in Winnipeg, Portage la Prairie, Steinbach, La Broquerie, Saint-Malo, Gimli, Flin Flon and The Pas each Friday and Saturday for five weeks, as well as Dec. 31, a Wednesday.

The money raised in the city this year will go to the Winnipeg Kids Foundation, which helps needy kids access education with scholarships as well as funding youth and sport groups. Money raised elsewhere in the province will go to local community organizations.

People who need a ride in Winnipeg, once the program begins, can call 204-947- 6673 (NOSE) to book.

Those in other communities can visit rednosemb.ca to find the right number to call in their location.

The program also needs volunteer drivers and donations.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca