Operation Red Nose Prince Albert. (submitted photo)

By Nigel Maxwell

Public safety

Operation Red Nose reports jump in ridership

Jan 5, 2026 | 10:29 AM

An annual holiday service that helps provide party goers with a safe ride home, is reporting a successful and busier year.

Operation Red Nose was run in 60 communities across Canada and nearly 23,000 rides were provided by over 21,000 volunteers.

In Prince Albert, the service was run by the Prince Albert Lions Club. Operating over 10 nights (nine in 2024), 166 rides were provided to 341 people and one puppy. This represented a 12 per cent increase in usage over 2024. Local Coordinator Randy Braaten was pleased with the end result.

“We’re slowly coming back from COVID,” he said. “The main thing I’d like to see is more volunteers because we were running pretty light on some nights.”

From the start of the campaign on Nov. 28 to Dec. 31, 20 volunteers devoted over 668 hours (611 in 2024), often getting home at 4 a.m. the next morning.

Crime

Professional wrestling items stolen during early break-in outside Lloydminster hotel

1h ago

Onto the Postseason

Northern Bears close out regular season with eight wins in last 10 games

2h ago

Snow clearing

Companies clearing snow working to keep up with demand

5h ago

Temperatures on many of the weekends was around minus 30 C and road conditions were challenging in places. The volunteers drove 2,544 km (2,267 in 2024).

While the service is free, tips are encouraged and this year $5,235 was donated by the people taken home. These funds will be donated to assist with youth programs in Prince Albert and area.

“We’re gonna do a review at our Lions meeting in January about the distribution,” Braaten said.

The Prince Albert Lions Club extended a big thank-you to all the volunteers who helped out and the local businesses that assisted in sponsoring the program.

Local car dealers provided their shuttles to use as escort vehicles, pizza places provided food to keep the volunteers well fed, donut shops provided coffee and donuts to keep them awake over the long nights and a hotel for provided us with a headquarters this year.

Businesses also provided printing services for posters and business cards and media helped advertise the program. Other businesses provided cash donations to assist with program expenses.

“Without this support it would very difficult to help keep city streets safe,” Braaten said.

Provincially, 339 volunteers answered the call, helping to ensure that 410 motorists and their passengers got home safe.

“We’re grateful for the incredible efforts of Operation Red Nose and its volunteers this holiday season,” said Kwei Quaye, Vice President of Traffic Safety, SGI. “Their dedication helped ensure Saskatchewan residents made it home safely to their loved ones. Community partnerships like this are essential to keeping our roads safe, and we’re proud to support a program that continues to make such a positive impact year after year.”

—

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell