City to waive fees for Operation Red Nose

Ahead of a planned return this holiday season, Brandon city council has waived criminal record check fees for Operation Red Nose volunteers.

Operation Red Nose hasn’t operated in Brandon since 2023 because of a lack of volunteers and fewer requests for service since it started locally in 1996. The volunteer-run organization provides people who have been drinking or using drugs with a safe ride home in their own car and is funded through donations.

“So (we’re) just trying to make it as easy as possible so that we can attract more volunteers,” Len Isleifson, who is overseeing stakeholder relations for Operation Red Nose as a board member of the Provincial Exhibition, said before Tuesday night’s meeting.

Isleifson, who is also running to be the mayor of Brandon in next month’s election, said the criminal record check fee was a big part of the problem in attracting volunteers, as they had to go to the police station and pay the cost, which currently sits at $13 for applicants with not-for-profit agencies.

“If we can get that waived for this year to see if it increases our volunteer base, then it helps the program itself, and it helps the community overall,” Isleifson said.

He said the expected $1,300 in savings for criminal record checks — based on an estimated 100 volunteers — is well worth it for the city, as Operation Red Nose makes streets safer for everyone around Christmas time.

Isleifson told council at Tuesday’s meeting that the small investment has a big impact.

“It does send a very important message. If the people are willing to volunteer their time to make our community safer, the city should do what it can to remove the barriers to participation,” Isleifson said.

After the 10-1 vote in favour of waiving the fees for up to 150 volunteers, Isleifson said the result was “amazing” and would hopefully attract people who have never volunteered before.

“It’s an opportunity to start over,” he said about the organization’s presence in the Wheat City.

Isleifson said before the meeting that Operation Red Nose is a valuable service not just to get people home safe, but also to keep dangerous or impaired drivers off the road, making streets safer for others.

“I just think it’s really good for the community.”

Coun. Bruce Luebke (Ward 6) was the only council member to vote against the request. During the meeting, Luebke asked Brandon Police Service Chief Tyler Bates about the $13 fee and how it covers costs for staff doing the criminal record checks.

Bates said there’s “very minimal material costs” to do the checks, and a good portion of the requests BPS receives are related to volunteer activities.

“I think the social benefit in terms of public safety is what’s paramount and a justification for the exception in this particular case,” Bates told council.

“Certainly, the holiday season is a time where there’s augmented use of substances, people that are driving that shouldn’t be driving and we just don’t want anybody to be in a situation where there are not options for them to get that safe ride home.”

The Sun wasn’t able to ask Luebke before press time why he voted against the motion.

In the past, Operation Red Nose reimbursed the fees volunteers paid, but another Provincial Exhibition representative with Operation Red Nose said the city paying those costs instead would help the organization’s finances.

“We’re hoping that in partnership with the city and Brandon city police waiving the fees, it might bring a few more people to the door to volunteer some time,” Clint Swain said before the meeting.

Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett, who is running for re-election next month, said before the meeting that any organization that can help people in the community is positive, and that Operation Red Nose has “been a valuable asset over the years.”

Swain said bringing back Operation Red Nose this year will take work, as people need to become aware of the program.

As well, donations are needed to cover marketing and fuel costs, he said.

“Gas isn’t cheap right now, so with every donation, that just goes into helping you make this service available to the Brandonites.”

Organizers are holding an official announcement on the return of Operation Red Nose today at noon at the Dome Building in Brandon.

Isleifson said it will be “boots on the ground” following today’s announcement.

» alambert@brandonsun.com