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Operation Red Nose kept impaired drivers off Thunder Bay streets

St. John Ambulance program gave nearly 900 rides
Operation Red Nose
Organizers and volunteers helped launch Operation Red Nose.

THUNDER BAY -- More rides, more volunteers and more money all added up to a successful season for Operation Red Nose in Thunder Bay.

The program offered transportation home for people who were drinking during the Christmas party season between Nov. 24 and Dec. 30.

St. John Ambulance, which operates the program, reported Tuesday that Operation Red Nose provided rides for 880 people, 130 more than last year.

"It was better than last year, which just shows the community is reaching out for new ways to travel in town," said coordinator Ross Vanderwey in an interview.

More city residents also responded as volunteer drivers, with about 200 participating compared with 155 the previous year.

According to Vanderwey, donations from clients brought in $17,000, an increase of about $3,000 from last year.

He said the money will be used to support a variety of St. John Ambulance programs ranging from medical first response to youth and school programs to a therapy dog service.

 

 





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