Gary Cooper has seen a dramatic shift in the community’s attitude toward impaired driving.
The former 38-year veteran of the Ontario Provincial Police is this year’s honorary chair of the St. John Ambulance’s annual Operation Red Nose campaign.
“When I started back in the ‘60s with the OPP it was almost an accepted practice,” Cooper said at the media launch of the campaign at Intercity Shopping Centre on Tuesday.
“People are now more and more aware of it. Now it is not socially acceptable.”
Operation Red Nose is a national program that will be entering its fifth year in Thunder Bay. It serves to provide transportation for people to safely return home after enjoying a night out.
Volunteers drive the person and their vehicle home free of charge.
The service will be available starting on Nov. 29 and will run on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the month of December.
Despite being a young program, it has caught on quite well in the community.
The campaign provided 758 rides home to people last year and was serviced by approximately 230 volunteers.
Impact Promotions is one of many local businesses that provide perks to volunteers, with each volunteer this year receiving a blanket.
John Phyllis, owner of Impact Promotions, said being a past victim of impaired driving has made him a firm supporter of the cause.
As a child, he was hit by a driver that was under the influence of alcohol.
“I feel it is important that I share that story so nobody else has to go through the pain and suffering that I went through,” Phyllis explained.
“With the education and the options there’s no reason anybody should drink and drive.”
Cooper is another individual that has experienced the ramifications of drinking and driving.
His vehicle was struck by a vehicle driven by an impaired driver while he serving as an officer with the OPP in Nipigon. The incident decommissioned Cooper for nearly six months.
“When they asked it was a no-brainer to get involved. This is a situation where we can get as many drinking drivers off the road as we can.”
The campaign will run 13 evenings this year, and anybody interested in volunteering is asked to contact the local chapter of St. John Ambulance.
