Red Nose launches St Malo campaign

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This article was published 29/11/2018 (1945 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Jari Carriere doesn’t want anyone to drink and drive this holiday season, because he knows all too well how a life can be turned upside down because of a DUI.

“Not only has this affected me financially but it has affected me emotionally,” Carriere told the crowd that gathered at an Operation Red Nose kick-off event in St Malo on Monday. “My pride took a big hit and it has taken me a while to get to a place where I feel like myself again.”

The Red Nose service will be coming to the St Malo area for the very first time this year, servicing a large area including St Malo, St Pierre, Niverville, Ste Agathe, Morris, St Jean, Ridgeville, Dominion City, Vita, Grunthal, and Kleefeld.

DAVE BAXTER | THE CARILLON
Jari Carriere, seen here speaking at the St Malo Operation Red Nose kick-off event on Monday, spoke candidly about being charged with a DUI in 2015, and how it has affected him and his family.
DAVE BAXTER | THE CARILLON Jari Carriere, seen here speaking at the St Malo Operation Red Nose kick-off event on Monday, spoke candidly about being charged with a DUI in 2015, and how it has affected him and his family.

Carriere, who is a husband and father of two, spoke candidly about his DUI in 2015.

“It’s tough because you pride yourself on being a provider for your family, but it’s hard to do that when you don’t have a license or a job.”

Carriere said he and some friends went to a friend’s house to have a few drinks after a hockey game on Jan. 15, 2015, and later that evening he decided to drive home after drinking and was pulled over and charged.

Court dates and legal fees followed, along with a one-year license suspension and a requirement to install an ignition lock on his vehicle.

In total, the St Malo resident said the poor decision cost him $12,000, but he also said he knows things could have been worse.

“I’m just so grateful no one got injured that night,” Carriere said as he held back tears.

Carriere is now calling on local residents to find alternatives to get home this holiday season, if they have been drinking rather than getting behind the wheel.

Vincent Dureault, who hosted Monday’s event, said there has been a belief for a while that an Operation Red Nose service was needed in the area, and he said the new service will be ambitious because of the large area it will cover.

Operation Red Nose is a free service but drivers will collect donations from riders. All money raised from the St Malo Operation Red Nose will go to the St Malo parish hall to assist with activities and programs that take place at the church.

Volunteers are now being sought to create teams of three drivers to drive people home, and drive their vehicles home as well.

The service will operate on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 p.m. until 3 a.m. every weekend from now until and including New Year’s Eve.

Anyone looking for information on how to volunteer can call the volunteer line at 204-746-0263, and anyone looking to set up a ride can call the ride line at 204-347-5518.

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