Image Credit: CFJC Today/File Photo

By Silvia Senna

OPERATION RED NOSE

Operation Red Nose prepares for its busiest weekends of the season

Dec 18, 2023 | 7:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — Operation Red Nose has been in full swing for nearly a month now. The safe ride service run by volunteers is approaching its busiest weekends of the season ahead of the holidays. The initiative is now in its 27th year, making sure clients and their vehicles get home safely.

“We provided 84 rides just this past Saturday (Dec 16), let alone Friday, so we’re really happy with those stops and getting tons of people home safely in their vehicles, as well. It has been a huge success,” said Elsa Poppleton, Operation Red Nose Coordinator.

Poppleton explained it is only about to get busier, with the organization expecting dozens of calls this weekend and next. “New Year’s Eve, of course, is going to be probably a very, very busy night for our call requests. The more teams, the better for that one, especially.”

Kamloops RCMP are always looking for impaired drivers, including Counter Attack enforcement during the holidays, and encourage residents to plan a safe ride home.

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“Part of our messaging is also to encourage people to utilize that ride home — plan ahead, use designated drivers, make sure you’re getting home safely,” explained Cpl. Dana Napier. “One of the ways you do that is a taxi or Operation Red Nose, having a designated driver, because we will be out looking for impaired drivers not only throughout the weekends but also during the day as well.”

All the money raised by Operation Red Nose will stay within the community.

“All the money that’s raised from Operation Red Nose — and that’s been for the last 26 years in Kamloops — has gone back to the Pacific Sport and their programing that they do out of the TCC, which has supported a lot of athletes in our community, and we’ll continue to do that for years to come,” explained Poppleton.

New volunteers can sign up to help at Operation Red Nose website.