Left to right, David Schell (co-chair), Val Bolig, and Gord Mullet are among the local Operation Red Nose volunteers. (submitted photo/David Schell)

By Angela Brown

Safe ride home

Operation Red Nose keeps everyone safe over the holidays

Dec 5, 2022 | 12:46 PM

People from the Battlefords who have been partaking in alcoholic beverages during the holiday season are reminded to call Operation Red Nose rather than drive home on their own.

To use the ride service, which started Dec. 2, people can call one of the phone numbers provided. Then, two volunteers will come to the client’s location. One volunteer will then drive the client home in the client’s vehicle, while the second volunteer will follow in a separate “chase” vehicle. Once they reach the client’s destination, they will give the client back his or her vehicle key.

“It’s a service we provide to get you home safe and get your vehicle home safe,” co-chair David Schell said.

He added by using the service, people won’t need to worry about getting their vehicle home the next morning.

The service is free, with all donations received benefiting KidSport Battlefords, so everything stays local.

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“It helps underprivileged families facing financial barriers, to give them an opportunity to participate in sports,” Schell said. “[Operation Red Nose] is a great service, both for safe rides home and to help local kids.”

All five car dealerships in the area are sponsoring the program, and taking turns providing vehicles for volunteers to use as the “chase” vehicle for the service.

Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) is a major sponsor for the Operation Red Nose campaign.

This is the first time the program has been running in the Battlefords since before the pandemic, so Schell is reminding people it’s back operating again.

A total of about 15 volunteers are taking part in the program this year.

“We’re hoping there are still some more applications to come in,” Schell said. “To have 20 or 25 volunteers would be good.”

He encourages people to use the service as an easy option to get home safely.

“Typically, when they need it, we are there pretty quickly,” Schell said.

People need to have their vehicle with them when they call.

The service continues on each of the following weekends: Dec. 9 and 10, and Dec. 16 and 17, running each night from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. It is not available over the Christmas weekend. It will operate again on New Year’s Eve on Dec. 31, when the service will run until 3 a.m.

To request the Operation Red Nose service, people can call 306-386-7817 or 306-317-3784.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow