2009 news releases

For major announcements, decisions, projects or campaigns, SGI circulates news releases to Saskatchewan media.

Plan for a safe ride home this holiday season

November 27, 2009

Operation Red Nose - Call us, we'll drive you in your own car for free.

This year, and for the very first time in Saskatchewan, citizens of The Battlefords will be able to benefit from the famous safe ride home service: Operation Red Nose.

The end of the evening is near, you don't want to hit the road impaired, you're dreaming of falling asleep in your bed and waking up with your car miraculously parked in your driveway the next morning? Call Operation Red Nose.

Operation Red Nose is a national road safety campaign against impaired driving. The program offers a safe ride home service, free of charge in one's own vehicle, provided during the holiday season to motorists who do not feel fit to drive. It is a volunteer driven private chauffeur service, provided to the community by the community. It's an original way to get home safe, in one's own vehicle, without taking the wheel.

The Operation Red Nose service is free, but donations are always accepted. One hundred percent of client donations are handed to local youth or amateur sports organizations in the communities where the program is held. In North Battleford, the Lions Club, local host organization for Operation Red Nose, will receive the donations which will help support youth programs in The Battlefords.

Operation Red Nose in The Battlefords

You don't feel fit to drive? You're too tired? You've had too much to drink? We encourage you to call a relative, a sober friend, a cab, or Operation Red Nose in order to get home safe.

To access the free safe ride home service in The Battlefords, simply call 306-446-2827 when you're ready to go, and a team of volunteers will come meet you to take you and your car safely home. No need to book the service in advance. Just call from a bar, a restaurant, or a party at a friend's house, and we will come pick you up.

How can one volunteer for Operation Red Nose?

Nothing is more simple. All you have to do is go to www.operationrednose.com, download the volunteer application form for The Battlefords, fill it out and send it to the address indicated on the form.

If Operation Red Nose has been able to hold its annual road safety campaign in Canada for more than 20 years, it is largely due to the numerous volunteers who donate one evening or more of their time during the holiday season. By offering an alternative to drinking and driving to the members of their community, these volunteers help make roads safer for everyone.

Operation Red Nose in Saskatchewan

Operation Red Nose is proud to announce the expansion of its program to Saskatchewan and its new partnership with the Saskatchewan Government Insurance, provincial sponsor of the program.

Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) is the province's self-sustaining auto insurance fund. SGI operates 21 claims centres and five salvage centres across Saskatchewan and a head office in Regina. SGI also works with a network of nearly 300 independent insurance brokers and 420 motor licence issuers across the province.

Operation Red Nose is hosted by non-profit local host organizations which organize the safe ride home service in their communities.

We encourage youth or amateur sports organizations looking for an original fundraising idea to host our road safety campaign in their community. They can do that by contacting the national office of Operation Red Nose at 418-653-1492, or by email at clefebvre@operationnezrouge.com

Operation Red Nose in Canada

A total of eight provinces will be hosting the campaign in 2009: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. Together, more than 100 communities across Canada will be offering the Operation Red Nose service this holiday season.

Since 1984, no less than 787,940 Operation Red Nose volunteers have provided a total of 1,506,421 rides in Canada.

About SGI

Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) is the province's self-sustaining auto insurance fund. SGI operates 21 claims centres and five salvage centres across Saskatchewan with a head office in Regina. SGI also works with a network of over 400 motor licence issuers across the province.