Heading into their 19th season with more than 11,000 safe rides home provided to merry makers in Prince George during the holiday season, Operation Red Nose launched its 2016 campaign Monday.
The campaign is organized by the Nechako Rotary Club of Prince George in partnership with ICBC, the local RCMP and, the latest to come along for the ride, the Prince George Cougars.
"The community of Prince George has shown that they are united with us and this is just another example of our organization showing how united we are with our community," said Richard Matvichuk, Cougars head coach and 2016 Operation Red Nose Prince George honorary chair.
Beginning this Friday, those celebrating the season are offered safe rides home from 9 p.m. to
3 a.m. for 10 nights, right up until the busiest night of the year, New Year's Eve.
Rides will be provided for party goers and their vehicles.
Teams of three people will pick up those accessing the service.
One volunteer will drive the person's car with them in it plus a navigator while another follows behind in a separate escort vehicle. The service is provided by donation.
"Operation Red Nose offers the opportunity for community members to be safe at Christmas," said Mayor Lyn Hall, who attended the launch in the Cougars dressing room Monday along with Operation Red Nose volunteers.
"We know now with the new drinking and driving laws it just makes sense not to drink and drive and with Operation Red Nose led by Nechako Rotary and now with the Cougars participating as a major sponsor it just makes absolute sense to leave the driving to Operation Red Nose after a Christmas party or a night out."
Always looking for volunteers to be part of the team, there are 167 people signed up and the goal is to have 350 volunteers on the schedule for the 10 nights.
To volunteer, visit www.ornpg.ca to fill out an application.
All funds raised through Operation Red Nose stay in the community to support youth and amateur sports.
This year operating times are from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. every Friday and Saturday night from Nov. 25 to Dec. 31.
Boundaries for safe rides home include Shelley, Red Rock, Beaverley and Goose Country Road.
To contact Operation Red Nose for a ride home on those nights, call 250-962-RIDE (7433).
