Operation Red Nose launches campaigns in Steinbach, La Broquerie, St Malo areas

It’s that time again when people all over the Southeast celebrate the holidays, which means that Operation Red Nose is in high gear to drive residents back to their homes safely.

Kicking things off for the Southeast are Operation Red Nose Steinbach/La Broquerie and Operation Red Nose St Malo.

“I think that using Operation Red Nose St. Malo it’s pivotal,” said Bob Adolphe, media and sponsorship coordinator for Operation Red Nose St Malo.

“I mean, because of the fact that now a lot more Christmas…staff parties are coming back and a lot more in-person functions are happening there’s a bigger need now for this kind of service. We don’t want to have anybody drinking and driving on the road. We’d rather them call up and get home safe, get their car home safe, and go from there.”

Created in 1984, Operation Red Nose’s safe ride service is available during the month of December to more than 100 communities across Canada.

RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Paul Manaigre wrote in an email that in Manitoba last year the force had a total of 1,651 cases of roadside infractions. Of those, 446 Criminal Code charges were laid against impaired drivers and the police issued 509 provincial roadside suspensions where the person either failed a field sobriety test or refused to provide a sample. The Mounties also pulled over 51 cases of drug or alcohol restricted drivers who were on the road. Manaigre noted there were also 18 fatal collisions where alcohol or drug involvement was either suspected or confirmed.

Operation Red Nose St Malo

Entering into its sixth year in service, Operation Red Nose St Malo will provide rides to residents in the communities along Highway 59 from Lorette to Tolstoi and Highway 75 from St. Adolphe to Dominion City.

Volunteers will be giving Southeast Manitobans rides home in the client’s own vehicle for free to the 20 communities along Highways 75 and 59 south. Compared to last year’s total of about 200 volunteers, this year’s 45 is a drop in the bucket of the 150 to 200 the campaign needs.

As for funding, this year St Malo raised $24,550 in sponsorships beating last year’s amount by $100.

“I think we had a lot of sponsors that had moved up in a level, that went from gold to platinum and we got probably three or four new sponsors that we sourced out this year. I think everybody in the area is very strong, we believe in this foundation, and we’ve been promoting it a lot (on) Facebook ads, a lot of social media stuff to try and get sponsorship,” said Adolphe.

Donations will be used to fund local charities in the Southeast that are chosen by the volunteers. Last year, volunteers gave funds to 27 different organizations totaling $5,409.

Operation Red Nose St Malo will begin giving rides from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Nov. 28 every Friday and Saturday for the month of December and on New Year’s Eve. To book a ride, call 204-347-5518. To volunteer, email st-malo@operationrednose.com or call 204-216-0140.

Steinbach/La Broquerie

The Steinbach/La Broquerie service covers areas in and around Steinbach, La Broquerie, Sarto, Kleefeld, Blumenort, Richer, Ste Anne, and Marchand.

Every year, for the past 11 years, the Steinbach/La Broquerie chapter has raised funds for Ecole Saint-Joachim. Last year, it raised $21,885 for the school’s expansion. Since 2013, Steinbach/La Broquerie has raised $68,376 for the school. This year, the ride home service is hoping to raise $15,000 to $20,000 for a new play structure and the expansion.

“The parent council of the school that launched Operation Red Nose, it was their idea to bring this campaign to the area because they saw a need for fundraising and for a youthful community in the community of La Broquerie and the surrounding areas. We know that that school supports not just the kids that go to that school, but the community in the area,” said Jo-Anne Dalton, communications officer for Operation Red Nose Steinbach/La Broquerie.

Dalton said all training is provided for volunteers, who have to be at least 18-years-old to drive residents home, but 16-year-olds can also volunteer at headquarters. Last year, Operation Red Nose Steinbach/La Broquerie gave 185 rides and since 2013 more than 2,612 rides.

Operation Red Nose Steinbach/La Broquerie has partnered with Operation Red Nose St Malo and Operation Red Nose Winnipeg chapters so that people can get rides to Winnipeg or to the catchment area of St Malo.

Anyone wishing to sponsor or book a ride with the Steinbach/La Broquerie chapter should call 204-424-9555 or visit rednoseonline.com.

Operation Red Nose Steinbach/La Broquerie will begin giving rides on Nov. 29 and every Friday and Saturday until Dec. 27 and on New Year’s Eve. The service will be available from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

“We do recommend that you call 30 minutes to 45 minutes ahead of your pickup time,” said Dalton.