Operation Red Nose Hits the Road

Quebec City, November 2^nd, 2021 – Operation Red Nose launches its 38^th annual safe ride campaign today, which will be held from November 26^th to December 31^st, 2021. This year, the safe ride service will be available in more than twenty communities in the province of Quebec, offering an additional option to get home safe and marking the resumption of holiday festivities.

After a year off the road, the organization is happy to be back and provide an additional option for Quebeckers to get home safe. This holiday tradition will not only contribute to making roads safer, but it will also help provide financial support to local youth and amateur sports organizations. “We really look forward to seeing our volunteers again and recapturing the friendly spirit that is cornerstone to our movement,” says Jean-Marie De Koninck, Founding President of Operation Red Nose. “Operation Red Nose has become a holiday tradition, and we are confident that volunteers and clients will be back for our 38^th annual campaign,” he adds.

Safety First
As always, prevention, safety, and caution are at the heart of Operation Red Nose’s mission and values on the road, inside headquarters, and through its various actions. For this reason, Operation Red Nose will continue to monitor the evolution of the pandemic and apply sanitary measures in force during the campaign. Amongst such measures, a new one has recently been added: volunteers will now have to present a valid vaccine passport. Surgical masks will be supplied and wearing them will be mandatory inside headquarters as well as inside vehicles, for both volunteers and clients. Measures will include physical distancing, frequent sanitizing of hands and surfaces, proper ventilation in vehicles, as well as symptom taking and keeping a register. These measures will contribute to the safety of volunteers and clients, and will allow Operation Red Nose to continue prioritizing prevention and safety while keeping the friendly and inclusive nature of its tradition.

Desjardins, a Key Player for Operation Red Nose
Since its beginning in 1984, Operation Red Nose has been able to count on the support of Desjardins, loyal provincial partner. “After 38 years, Desjardins is still very proud to support the mission of Operation Red Nose and to contribute to making roads safer during the holidays,” says Valérie Lavoie, President and Chief Executive Officer for Desjardins Groupe d’assurances générales, and Honorary President of the 38^th annual Operation Red Nose campaign. “As an insurance provider, we too often see the impacts of impaired driving, whether by alcohol, drugs, or fatigue. There is no justification for driving under the influence and putting lives at risk! Operation Red Nose volunteers help those who make the right choice to get home in one piece. It is the greatest gift to give oneself, as well as loved ones!”

Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec and Operation Red Nose: A Shared Mission
Operation Red Nose could not pursue its mission without the support of the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ). “Throughout the last 38 years of cooperation, the fruitful relationship that we have built contributes to improving road safety in the province. Together, we pursue a common objective: working to change the behavior of Quebeckers when it comes to impaired driving,” says Éric Santerre, Director, Road Safety Strategies and Partnerships with SAAQ. He adds: “Impairment can be caused alcohol or drugs, but it can also be caused by fatigue. Therefore, if your loved ones are not in a condition to get behind the wheel, help them make the right choice by calling Operation Red Nose!”

Operation Red Nose: Active in more than twenty Communities
This list will be updated as needed, but here are the current local host organizations that intend to participate in this year’s campaign:

• Beauce-Etchemins
• Chibougamau-Chapais
• Joliette-de-Lanaudière
• Laval-Basses Laurentides
• Longueuil-Rive-Sud
• Lotbinière
• Magog
• Mascouche-Lanaudière-Sud
• Mont-Laurier
• Montréal
• Outaouais
• Pays-d’en-Haut
• Québec-Lévis
• Saguenay
• Saint-Jérôme
• Salaberry-de-Valleyfield
• Shawinigan
• Sherbrooke
• Sorel-Tracy
• Thetford Mines
• Vallée de la Rouge
• Vaudreuil-Dorion

About Operation Red Nose
Operation Red Nose is a non-profit organization with a mission to encourage responsible behaviour with regards to impaired driving, in a non-judgmental manner. The money it raises is redistributed to local organizations dedicated to youth and amateur sports. Operation Red Nose also provides awareness activities throughout the year, such as Tournée Party sans déraper and the C’est notre tournée! conference.