It is 8:30 on a dark, rainy Saturday night and one by one Operation Red Nose volunteers descend on a room at the Union Steamship Marina operation headquarters for the evening. They range from 23 years young to somewhere in their golden years and tonight they are giving up their weekend night for a noble cause to help people who feel unfit to drive get back home safely in their own car.
Operation Red Nose, with its provincial sponsors, ICBC and CTV, has been making provincial roads safer since November 25 and will continue through the biggest party night of the year New Year's Eve. So far this season, Operation Red Nose on Bowen has given 37 rides to 55 people.
But back to our local headquarters. There are a number of Christmas parties on the island tonight and the team is told to prepare for a busy night. "There is a lot happening on the island so it could be a very busy evening," warns team leader Bawn Campbell, who brought Operation Red Nose to Bowen just last year.
The nine men and women are a fraction of the 72-person team who signed up this Christmas season to ensure that Bowen revelers get a safe ride home from their holiday festivities. "Some people put in just one shift over the entire season while others do it every weekend. We appreciate every ounce of time that is given to us," says Campbell.
Whether it is for one evening or 10, volunteers can choose the amount of time they can dedicate to Operation Red Nose.
This enthusiastic group gathers around their team leader to find out just what is in store for the next six hours. "There is fog tonight, and there could even be wet snow on some parts of the island," chimes in one of the drivers.
"It's not just the weather that we have to look out for," Campbell reminds them, "it's also the shape the vehicle is in. Remember that safety is our number one concern."
By 9:05 p.m., everyone is organized and ready to go and while it's still too early for calls to be coming in, volunteers are far from sitting down and waiting. Sporting the infamous twinkling reindeer antlers and bright red Styrofoam noses, the red-vested volunteers embark on a fundraising and awareness mission through the town. They stop at the local pubs and restaurant to hand out flyers and remind partiers they have a safe option for getting home. Oh yes and while they are at it they sell the antlers and the noses to raise money for charity.
You see, in addition to promoting safe driving in a non-judgmental manner, Operation Red Nose is also a fundraising campaign for non-profit youth and/or amateur sports organizations in our country. Here on Bowen Island, the money raised will go toward youth programs and the Rotary Club.
Tonight, the noses are a big hit; who wouldn't want a festive reindeer nose? And the antlers make a great prop and conversation starter for any Christmas on New Year's Eve Party.
Back at the headquarters, switchboard operator Sheila Webster fields calls from partiers and dispatches teams to their assignments. She is accompanied by back-up driver Annie O'Dea.
It is clear that these volunteers are gaining much by than giving up their Saturday night. For a mere six hours of service with Operation Red Nose they get steaming hot coffee provided by Snug Café, tantalizing pizza from Tuscany, an evening of camaraderie, connecting with their community and being of service, and above all the knowledge that their selfless actions save lives.
As a footnote: Operation Red Nose will be taking a hiatus this weekend but will be in full swing for New Year's Eve.
If you need a ride on the 31, please call 604-619-0942. The service is free but donations are welcome.
AGNIESZKA WYKA
Special to the Undercurrent
