By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Community volunteers needed as Operation Red Nose enters 24th year

Nov 13, 2018 | 2:37 PM

LETHBRIDGE – A staple of the holiday season in Lethbridge has returned, as Operation Red Nose prepares for its 24th year of operation in our city.

The program provides rides home for people in their own vehicles, so they don’t have to leave them behind leading up to Christmas and New Year’s Eve. There’s no fee for the service, although donations are accepted with proceeds supporting Pronghorn Athletics.

“Each team receives parts of whatever the donations are, based on their participation,” explained Ken McInnes, the university’s executive director for sport and recreation. “Every team has a different need – some might be strictly for travel, others it might be for equipment – so it goes right to the team that provides volunteers for that night.”

“Funding gives you opportunities for maybe new equipment… different pre-season things that maybe other teams don’t get to have,” added Tricia Van Vaerenbergh, a Pronghorns’ Women’s hockey player who is entering her fourth year of volunteering.

“It’s interesting,” Van Vaerenbergh added, when asked about the experience. “You get to meet a lot of different people, get to talk to different community members. It’s fun in a way because a lot of people are having a good time and just enjoying the holidays.”

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While Pronghorn athletes make up the bulk of the volunteer force, community volunteers have always been a part of it – something that will need to increase this year.

“This year it’ll be really important for us, because it’s a year where we end up with three dates right before Christmas, which will be really busy – Dec. 20, 21, and 22 – when many of our student athletes have gone home for the Christmas break. So, we’re going to be really leaning on our community support this year to fill those dates,” explained McInnes.

Community volunteers, McInnes noted, can help out by being part of the teams that drive people home or by working in their dispatch centre to coordinate those rides.

Last year, the program provided 967 rides home for people, and since it was started in Lethbridge 23 years ago, the initiative has raised more than $728,000 for Pronghorn teams.

Of course, the campaign has also undoubtedly prevented many people from tempting fate and trying to drive home while impaired, something members of the Lethbridge Police Service are thankful for.

“When people are taking those rides home, we know that they’re not driving impaired,” said LPS Cst. Jonathan Brunning. “This year, more than most, we’ll be looking a lot more for [drivers] impaired by anything – drugs, alcohol, that kind of stuff. It’s just good to know that during the holiday season people are safe.”

Operation Red Nose will be available Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 31 between the hours of 9:30 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. You can reach them for a ride at 403-320-4155.

For those interested in volunteering or arranging Christmas party reservations, you can call Pronghorn Athletics at 403-329-2681 or email orn@uleth.ca.