Media Releases 2007
January 8, 2007
Insurers applaud Operation Red Nose volunteers for helping
more than 1,239 holiday partiers get home safely
Halifax, NS – January 8, 2007 – Canada’s home, car and business insurers would like the volunteers of Operation Red Nose to stand up and take a bow. This holiday season, more than 350 volunteers across Nova Scotia gave their time to Operation Red Nose, ensuring that more than 1,239 holiday partiers, and their cars, arrived home safely.
“Operation Red Nose makes Nova Scotia’s roads safer during the holiday season,” said Don Forgeron, Vice-President, Atlantic, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). “And this excellent service would not be possible without the individuals who generously gave their time.”
He added: “We give special recognition to the team of Operation Red Nose volunteers whose car was hit by an impaired driver on the first night of operation. Fortunately, nobody was seriously injured, but this story is a sad reminder of why this service is still so vitally important.”
Operation Red Nose is a free designated-driver service, but donations are accepted from clients. Nationally, over $1.3 million dollars was raised for charities this year.
Among the volunteers in Nova Scotia were many employees from the insurance industry, who too often see the damage that drinking and driving can do in their communities. Forgeron said, “Volunteering for Operation Red Nose is a fun and rewarding experience. The volunteers did a wonderful thing over the holiday season—they gave up their time to drive holiday revelers home safely.”
Canada’s home, car and business insurers, through IBC, sponsored Operation Red Nose in Atlantic Canada, Ontario and Alberta. For 2006, they committed more than $2 million to the program. The funds paid for day-to-day operations, an extensive public-awareness campaign, the recruitment of volunteers and insurance for the volunteers.
IBC was also the local host for the program in Halifax and Moncton, providing training for volunteers on nights of operation. In those cities, IBC matched donations from Operation Red Nose clients and, all told, was able to raise $18,079 for Safe Grad programs, including $11,315 in Halifax.
Insurance Bureau of Canada is the national trade association of the private property and casualty insurance industry. It represents more than 90% of the non-government home, car and business insurance in Canada. To view news releases and information, visit the media section of IBC's website at www.ibc.ca.
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For more information: James Geuzebroek, IBC, at 416-362-2031 ext. 4364
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