The provincial kick-off to Operation Red Nose (ORN) was held at the 91原创 Events Centre (LEC) Thursday morning, to officially mark the holiday season and that the volunteer ride service is readying for it鈥檚 24th year in B.C.
鈦︹仼 Rudy can skate! He鈥檚 facing off with 鈦︹仼 this morning. From Nov. 29-Dec 31 make 鈥渁 call that goes a long way鈥�. and support 鈦︹仼 鈦︹仼 is a proud 鈦︹仼 sponsor. 馃帀馃寛猸愶笍馃檹馃徑馃憤馃徑馃憦馃鉂わ笍
鈥� Road Safety Karon (@RoadSafetyKaron)
91原创 was chosen to host the launch because the community has been without ORN since 2016 when the local Gymnastics Foundation stopped hosting the program.
91原创 Minor Hockey Association (LMHA) announced last month that they have taken over the reins of ORN for the 2019 holiday season.
Aaron Sproule, LMHA association president, welcomed back Rudy the ORN mascot back to 91原创 at a press conference held at LEC.
鈥淭he value that Operation Red Nose provides to community and road safety cannot be understated,鈥� Sproule stated, thanking the city, township, and ICBC for helping facilitate the service.
A team of three volunteers will pick callers up and drive them in their own vehicle to the destination of their choice. One volunteer drives, a second navigates, and a third volunteer follows in an escort vehicle to pick up the volunteers 鈥� all done free of charge.
Any money donated by ORN users will go towards LHMA to help bring down fees for young hockey players.
Township Counc. Margaret Kunst and City mayor Val van den Broek were on hand to acknowledge the importance of having ORN in 91原创.
鈥淭hank you so much for bringing it back,鈥� van den Broek said.
ORN has been in operation for 35 years 鈥� starting in 91原创 in 1999 when volunteer Garry Geisler ushered it into the community and served as its coordinator for more than a decade.
For his efforts, Geisler was awarded a special vest at the conference, and his named inducted into the ORN Hall of Fame 鈥� a national honour bestowed on only three other recipients in the organization鈥檚 existence.
Read More: Eagles swoop in to bring back Operation Red Nose
Now with ORN brought back to Surrey-91原创 and the season officiated by the provincial office, the most important aspect Sproule and LHMA said, is to get volunteers.
The service runs every Friday and Saturday night from Nov. 29 to Dec. 29 from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Drivers, dispatch workers, and even cooperate sponsors are all required to make ORN run successfully.
There is plenty of time to sign up and get involved; more information can be found at or on their .
The local Red Nose number to call if a ride is needed is 604-539-9082.
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Email: ryan.uytdewilligen@langleyadvancetimes.com
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