Organizers cancel Operation Red Nose

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This article was published 31/10/2024 (521 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For the first time in 28 years, there will be no Operation Red Nose in Brandon this holiday season, and according to Frank McGwire, media relations director of the local organizing committee, “It’s disheartening, but it could be a sign of the times. Maybe it’s run its course.”

During December’s holiday season, up to and including New Year’s Eve, Operation Red Nose would offer people who have been drinking or using recreational drugs a safe ride home — and in their own car.

The cost was whatever donation the partiers chose to give, with all money going to local youth and sports programs.

McGwire said it was a committee decision to cancel Red Nose this year, adding, the reason why — “the phone was not ringing.”

This would have been his third year helping to run the volunteer-driven organization, but said he has noticed a downward trend the last two seasons, which also affected how much money was raised.

“In the peak years, we would get upwards of 100 calls a weekend, and we would have to have a dozen teams of three go out and get these people home safe,” said McGwire. “Last year, we had weekends where we might get three calls, maybe four.

“And two years ago, a hockey team was the beneficiary, I think the cheque was 500 bucks,” he added. “That’s pitiful compared to the glory years, when we would get thousands of dollars donated.”

McGwire added that last year’s amount taken in for a local youth group was even less than $500.

Operation Red Nose was created by Manitoba Public Insurance in 1995, and one year later, in 1996, it was launched in the Wheat City by Brandon’s Assiniboine Kiwanis Club, which operated it until 2006.

In those 10 years, they provided 9,221 rides and donated $97,120 to groups in the city.

From then on, local committees took the wheel in organizing the designated driver program each year — and according to The Brandon Sun archives, they were successful, but each year showed a slight decrease.

The Sun reported in 2011 that 200 volunteers signed up to drive, answer phones and schedule drivers. That year, 400 rides were logged.

In 2015, the program delivered 387 rides with 173 volunteers and raised more than $4,100 for youth and sports programs.

Four years later, in December 2019, the Sun reported 174 rides had been provided as of Dec. 22.

Red Nose was cancelled in 2020 and 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and after restrictions were lifted, McGwire said the numbers never came back up.

“Maybe some people don’t want other people driving their car or touching their steering wheel. Or maybe people aren’t going out as much as they used to,” said McGwire.

“But we can’t justify getting these volunteers out on their own time, out of the kindness of their heart, helping out the cause. And they’re getting their criminal background checks, so they can take part.

“Last year, we had to cancel the first week because there weren’t enough volunteer drivers,” McGwire said.

In order to sign up with ORN, volunteers needed to fill in an application form and complete a criminal record check, which was provided by Brandon Police Service.

BPS Staff Sgt. Russ Paterson said it is an easy process, which was relatively inexpensive — and many of the community groups that required the criminal record check — would reimburse the volunteers for the cost.

“It certainly is too bad about Operation Red Nose,” said Paterson. “It’s been a worthy program and running just shy of 30 years.

“However, I am confident that the people of Brandon will phone a friend or call a cab, and in previous years, Brandon Transit has offered free transit on New Year’s Eve.

“Don’t drink and drive,” he added, “You shouldn’t be getting behind the wheel if you’re partaking. There are always options, and it’s preventable,” Paterson said.

Impaired driving was a factor in one in five deaths of Manitoba’s youngest drivers on provincial roads in 2023, according to MPI data. And road crashes are a leading cause of death among Canadian youth, with alcohol, cannabis and/or other drugs involved in over half of those crashes.

The numbers were supplied to MADD Canada for its impaired driving awareness program it delivered to grades 7 to 12 students, with one of the key messages being the importance of planning ahead.

McGwire said he hoped that either people are planning, or the message about the dangers of drinking and driving is getting through, but added, Operation Red Nose is a “service that Brandon is losing.”

“We were excited to get into the 2024 season of Operation Red Nose, and it was a very hard decision to make. It is disheartening and hopefully next year we’re back, but we’re parking it for this year.”

» mmcdougall@brandonsun.com

» X: @enviromichele