A release stated, “It is with a heavy heart that Operation Red Nose announces that its safe ride service will not be taking place in 2021 in the provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta. Since deploying the annual large-scale service depends, amongst other things, on the public health situation, the organization has no choice but to push the very appreciated service to next year.”
Created in 1984, Operation Red Nose’s safe ride service has been available, during the month of December, to more than 100 communities across Canada. A simple phone call would get you a team of volunteers to drive you safely home.
Fundraising accompanies the campaign, with a mission to support youth or amateur sports.
“We were really looking forward to bringing the safe ride service back this year. We have put a lot of thought into our decision, and it was a very hard one to make. We were hoping, up to the very last minute, to be able to announce that we would be back on the road this year,” says Anne-Marie Audet, Executive Director at the national Operation Red Nose office. She adds: “The safety of our volunteers and clients is our priority, so the hard choice to push our safe ride campaign to 2022 is ultimately the most reasonable one given the current health situation.”
Since the safe ride service will not be offered in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta, Operation Red Nose invites all motorists to always plan to get home safe by calling a friend or a cab, or by designating a sober driver ahead of time.
