Operation Red Nose Team back to make Nanaimo safer

Submitted by Allison Parsley

Communications Coordinator

Operation Red Nose and PacificSport - Vancouver Island

As temperatures drop and fingertips tingle we are reminded that the holiday season is fast upon us; and with that comes the start of the annual Operation Red Nose campaign.

The Operation Red Nose Chauffeur service is provided during the holidays to individuals who do not feel fit to drive for whatever reason.  It is a confidential, safe, and effective way of getting you and your car home by allowing a team of volunteers to do the driving for you.  

Each team consists of three volunteers. They are the volunteer driver, the navigator and the escort driver. Clients are driven home in their own vehicle by the volunteer driver and navigator. They are followed and later picked up by the escort driver in an Operation Red Nose vehicle.  Clients need not worry if they have passengers to be dropped off.  The team will happily deliver the troop to their respective destinations ending with the client and his or her vehicle.

Operation Red Nose is an educational service for you and your employees, co-workers, friends and family that provides a safe alternative to drinking and driving.  The service is completely free however, smiles, thanks and donations are happily welcomed.  All proceeds are directed to local Red Nose host PacificSport, a non-profit organization aimed at promoting high performance sport in BC. 

“Red Nose is a win-win program in the community,” states Drew Cooper, general manager.

“It creates safer streets by providing an alternative to drinking and driving during the holiday season and proceeds support local athletes in their attempt to win Gold Medals for Canada.”

Pick-up and drop-off services are available this year from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. anywhere between Lantzville and Cedar.  Dates of service begin on November 25, continuing with December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, and 31 -- every Friday and Saturday night throughout the month of December with the exception of the 29 and 30.

PacificSport delivers sport performance programs to help athletes and coaches win medals for Canada.  Working in support of our national, provincial, and regional sport partners PacificSport is creating a stronger system for the development of athletes, coaches, performance enhancement teams and sport performance facilities. www.pacificsport.com

Also, check out the Operation Red Nose site at www.operationrednose.com.