Operation Red Nose Celebrates its 30th Canadian Campaign

From November 29th to December 31st 2013

BURNABY, BC, Nov. 8, 2013 /CNW/ - 58,000 Canadian Operation Red Nose volunteers are getting ready for this year's special campaign, when the safe ride service will celebrate its 30th annual campaign. With the help of its provincial partner, ICBC, the Operation Red Nose service will be offered from November 29th to December 31st 2013 in 106 host communities across Canada, including BC 13 communities.

The 30th campaign

With this year's theme « Planning some holiday cheer? Call a deer! », Operation Red Nose is inviting all British Columbians to « Call a deer » and plan a safe ride home. They can also participate in the campaign by taking part in a memorable evening of volunteering, on the road or in one of the headquarters, or by supporting their local host organization financially. If Operation Red Nose can celebrate 30 years of successful activity, it's because of the exceptional community involvement of the volunteers from year to year since 1984.

From 1984 to one million volunteers

Who could have predicted that a simple idea in 1984 could have mobilized, almost 30 years later, more than one million volunteers? « Our projections allow us to already state that Operation Red Nose will welcome its one millionth volunteer during the second weekend of operation, without being able at this time to know the precise date that this will happen. », says Jean‐Marie De Koninck, Founding President of Operation Red Nose. The exact date will be confirmed after the first few nights of operation, at the beginning of December. « Very few organizations reach one million volunteers in their history, and Operation Red Nose is very proud to add its name to that short list ».

ICBC: a proud sponsor

"We've been a proud partner of Operation Red Nose for the last 18 years because we know how much the program and its dedicated volunteers help keep our roads safe during the holidays," said John Dickinson,

ICBC's director of road safety. "We want everyone to enjoy a safe holiday season with their family and friends. If your festivities involve alcohol, make sure you plan ahead for a safe ride home by calling Operation Red Nose."

ICBC helps support Operation Red Nose by providing auto insurance to protect ORN volunteers and their passengers, creating promotional materials for the campaign, and encouraging employees to volunteer for ORN in their communities.

Operation Red Nose in British Columbia

Operation Red Nose is a program offered to the community by the community and is hosted locally by a non‐profit organization that plans, with the help of the National office in Quebec City, the safe ride home service. One hundred percent of the client donations are given to local youth or amateur sport organizations. Last year alone, it is close to $1,500,000 that were given to these organizations from coast to coast.

The Operation Red Nose service now covers 13 British Columbia communities: Abbotsford‐Mission, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Delta‐Richmond, Kamloops, Langley‐Surrey, Nanaimo, New Westminster, North Shore, Prince George, Ridge‐Meadows, Tri‐Cities and Williams Lake. For those interested in joining the tradition, volunteer application forms are available at OperationRedNose.com

SOURCE: ICBC

Media Contact:
Chris Wilson
Operation Red Nose British Columbia
604 341‐0241