Former athletic director honoured as 23rd Operation Red Nose launches
LETHBRIDGE – “It was crazy. We didn’t know anything about what was happening. We didn’t have phones that worked until about half an hour before the service started.”
Sandy Slavin has fond memories of 1995, when she and Pronghorn Athletics brought Operation Red Nose to Lethbridge. The former U of L athletic director, who retired in 2015, was honoured Tuesday, Nov. 14 as Operation Red Nose was launched for its 23rd year in the city.
“I felt really strongly that for someone to be here for 20 years and do the great job that she has done, we really needed to do a proper thank-you,” Marie-Chantal Fortin, national development coordinator for Operation Red Nose, said about Slavin, who announced her retirement in 2015. “She was instrumental for us in developing the program and giving it a really good reputation in Western Canada.”
The program provides rides home for people during the Christmas and New Year’s entertaining season, using their own vehicles with volunteer drivers. Donations are accepted, but there is no fee.