Source: Operation Red Nose Press Release - October 29, 2024
The old saying, “Use it or lose it,” comes to mind when Westman Zone learned of the decision to cancel Operation Red Nose for the 2024 yuletide season. The committee that coordinates the O.R.N. campaign has announced it is parking the service this year, citing a sharp drop in calls as the deciding factor.
The service, designed to keep roads safer throughout the Christmas season by providing rides for people out celebrating by getting them and their vehicles home, will not be in operation this December. Committee members say it really did come down to a use it or lose it situation, “Ever since the COVID years we’ve had fewer and fewer calls. We thought once the COVID regs were lifted there might be a surge in usage of the service but that hasn’t materialized.”
In past years the service ran on donations that were allocated to local youth sports initiatives. This year, Brandon’s O.R.N. committee says they’re pumping the brakes, “We’d like to see the service continue in the near future but right now we just can’t justify continuing things with such limited demand.” The committee adds parking the service was a tough decision, "We want folks in Westman to know that this decision was not made easily, and every effort was put in place to attempt alternatives in running Operation Red Nose. We’re hoping it will be able to continue next year."
Created in 1984, Operation Red Nose’s safe ride service will still be available, during the month of December, to more than 100 communities across Canada. The organization asks community members to make the safe decision of not getting behind the wheel while intoxicated and to make other arrangements for transportation to get home.
Brandon’s ORN service had to cancel its first week of service last year due to a lack of volunteers. It ran for 4 weekends including New Years Eve, but a very limited number of calls came in requesting rides. Other communities in the decision stage of possibly parking the ORN service are Winnipeg (due to lack of funding) and Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Brandon’s 2023 ORN committee members and sponsors. Pictured L-R: (Paul Maloney, Gladden Smith, and Larry Grudinski (ORN Committee members), Detective Marc Allain (BPS), Frank McGwire (ORN Media Relations Director), Ron Janzen (President & CEO Safety Services Manitoba), Rudy (ORN Mascot), Shaun Cameron (Brandon City Councilor - University Ward), and Andrew Gray (Sales Manager - Murray Chev Cadillac).
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