THUNDER BAY – Operation Red Nose won’t be active during the 2021 holiday season.
The safe ride service, which involves volunteers driving home party-goers and their vehicles on weekends during November and December, has been cancelled for a second straight year due to COVID-19 concerns.
Operated locally by St. John Ambulance, organizers on Wednesday said it was with a heavy heart they announced the service won’t return this year.
We were hoping to be able to hold our safe ride service in all communities this year, but circumstances vary from region to region, and it’s simply not possible to do so everywhere.” said AnneMarie Audet, executive director at the national Operation Red Nose office in Quebec.
Operation Red Nose has been cancelled in a number of different jurisdictions, including Albert and Saskatchewan. The program will be offered in some areas of southern Ontario.
Operation Red Nose began in Thunder Bay in 2009.
Organizers ask that anyone who is out this holiday season to call a cab, a friend or designate a sober driver to get them home safely.
