Operation Red Nose (ORN) will be in effect and ensuring residents of Cold Lake get home safely this holiday season.
Cold Lake Victim Services will offer the drive safe program to partygoers on weekends beginning Nov. 24-25, and every Friday and Saturday throughout December. They'll have six teams on standby ready to transport residents, and their vehicles, home.
“This is an absolutely free drive home program. When somebody calls, we dispatch a team of three, the passenger sits in the back seat, and then we have a driver, a navigator, and one of our own vehicles following as an escort,” explained program manager David Zimmerman.
In order to be eligible for the service residents must have their own vehicle for an ORN team to transport home, and they must be picked up and dropped off within the City of Cold Lake. Vehicles must also be in safe operating condition upon pickup, and drivers will be instructed on what to look for by a member of the RCMP.
In addition to their weekend schedule the program will also run on New Years Eve. On nights Operation Red Nose is offered residents can call or text 780-812-5880 between the hours of 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. to utilize the service.
“We really want to stress this is for residents of Cold Lake. Sometimes we'll go to a party at Riverhurst Hall, or maybe even the Casino, but we don't drive to acreages, or Bonnyville, or Cold Lake First Nations, it's only within city limits,” said Zimmerman.
The service is free, but teams will be accepting donations with the proceeds going towards helping Cold Lake Victim Services improve programming for children who have been victims of crime and tragedy.
The group is still looking for volunteers to drive, navigate, and handle dispatching the teams.
“Dispatchers have a really busy job, they don't leave headquarters but they're on the phone constantly. Normally for the first hour it's quiet, and then it really picks up,” explained Linda Howe, assistant program manager.
Applications to become a volunteer can be picked up at the Cold Lake RCMP detachment. While their main priority is getting residents home safely, volunteers can also expect to have a little fun during downtimes.
“We want to have fun, and share a lot of laughs. We get together and watch a short training video before a run, and then we watch movies and tell jokes, we've even had a guy bring his guitar for a sing-along. When the phones are ringing we're working, but we want to have a good time,” said Howe.
On the road however, the teams are all business, with drivers being instructed to take a relaxed and easy approach. You won't catch an ORN driver speeding, or trying to beat out a red light, instead they'll take it slow, ensuring a safe and pleasant ride home.
Without downplaying other safe options, Zimmerman explained the program adds another option for residents to get home responsibly after one too many egg nogs.
“We tell our drivers to take it nice and easy, we want it to be smooth sailing all the way home,” said Zimmerman “This means a lot to the community. A taxi service, and designated drivers are still very important, but this is just a safe alternative that will ensure residents, and their vehicles get home from their holiday parties.”
