Volunteers key to Operation Red Nose success

More volunteers will have to sign up this year in order to make Operation Red Nose Brandon a success, an official with the non-profit said on Wednesday.

There were only a “handful” of volunteers and calls for service in 2023, the last year the program operated.

Organizers officially announced the return of the program after its two-year hiatus at an event on the front steps of the Dome Building Wednesday afternoon.

“Operation Red Nose was placed in neutral, and ultimately parked because of declining volunteer participation (and) reduced demand for the services as well,” Frank McGwire, social media co-ordinator for the group, told about 20 attendees during the press conference.

“Unlike some vehicles in Manitoba winters, we’re happy today to report this one wasn’t abandoned permanently.”

McGwire said Operation Red Nose is a good service to have during the holidays. The volunteer-run program provides people who have been drinking or using drugs with a safe ride home in their own car.

“Christmas parties are great. The music gets louder, the stories get bigger, everyone’s having a good time, a few cocktails go by and everyone’s really enjoying themselves until someone’s convinced ‘I can drive home.’ That’s why Operation Red Nose exists,” McGwire said.

He cautioned that this will be a trial year.

“Together we can ensure a safe, convenient ride home for both motorists and their vehicles during the holiday season, and if successful, Operation Red Nose will remain a part of our community for many years to come,” he said.

“Let’s hope that happens. We don’t want this service to be parked ever again.”

During the event, Brandon Police Service Chief Tyler Bates said Operation Red Nose can make a significant impact on public safety.

“I applaud the volunteers that are making this program possible. The proactive effort from a policing perspective is incredibly important because every impaired driver that we have on our roads represents a potential tragedy,” Bates said.

McGwire said after the event that he hopes to see hundreds of volunteers this year.

In 2023, Brandon had 90 volunteers and gave 56 rides, compared to 85 volunteers and 60 rides in 2022, data provided by McGwire show. The COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the 2020 and 2021 campaigns, which took a toll on participation, McGwire said.

“The last two years we’ve been kind of sitting around going, ‘What are we doing wrong?’” he said.

“When you’re running with just a handful of volunteers, it really adds to the difficulty of it.”

In December 2019, the Sun reported that 174 rides had been provided as of Dec. 22.

A total of 387 rides were logged in 2015 and 400 in 2011, with 200 volunteers participating that year.

McGwire also thanked city council for voting on Tuesday to cover the costs of completing criminal record checks, which could open the door to more volunteers.

Asked why Operation Red Nose is making a comeback in Brandon this year, McGwire said: “It just seems like now the timing’s right.”

The program will start on Nov. 27 and 28, with a kickoff social with a 1970s and ’80s theme on the 28th.

» alambert@brandonsun.com