Last call before you hit the road!

    Operation Red Nose - a free service offers partygoers and their cars a
    safe ride home

    NORTH BAY, ON, Nov. 17 /CNW/ - This holiday season, the Ontario Safety
League (OSL) and Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) team up with St. John
Ambulance to once again offer partygoers (and their cars) a safe ride home in
North Bay.
    During the holiday season, think about using the Operation Red Nose (ORN)
service. This service keeps impaired drivers off the road and, at the same
time, gets everyone who sees or hears about the program thinking about
celebrating responsibly. This year, Operation Red Nose - the unique, free
designated-driver service - will operate once again in North Bay thanks to St.
John Ambulance, which stepped forward this year to act as local host of the
program. On weekends, holiday revellers in North Bay will have the option of
making the smart call - to get themselves and their cars home safely - for the
month of December.
    "Our goal is to keep the festive season festive by preventing the
needless tragedies that result from impaired driving," said Don Forgeron,
Vice-President, Ontario, IBC. "Operation Red Nose is a natural extension of
our industry's long-term commitment to road safety, and we are delighted to be
a part of this important program for the fourth consecutive year."
    This program is recognized across the province as an excellent way for
communities to reduce the devastating impact of impaired driving during the
holiday season. Last year, Operation Red Nose communities experienced zero
alcohol-related fatalities on the nights when the service was being offered.
    Brian Patterson, President, Ontario Safety League, said: "We are pleased
to join forces with Insurance Bureau of Canada and St. John Ambulance,
especially because our efforts have had such a positive impact across the
province of Ontario. We hope to see more communities join the program in
2009."
    Operation Red Nose would not be able to provide its designated-driver
service in North Bay without the help of the hundreds of people who volunteer
their time, and their cars, during one of the busiest seasons of the year.
Last year, close to 200 volunteers in North Bay wore the bright red vest and
enjoyed the unique experience of volunteering for Operation Red Nose with
their friends, families and colleagues. Spending a night volunteering for
Operation Red Nose is a fun and rewarding way to give back to your community
during the holiday season.
    This year, as a token of thanks, the national office of Operation Red
Nose is providing volunteers with the opportunity to win a five-day trip to
Quebec City during Carnival in February 2009. To sweeten the pot, IBC will be
drawing one lucky volunteer's name in each location it sponsors, and that
volunteer will win an iPod classic. Every time someone volunteers, he or she
has a chance to win.
    Operation Red Nose invites everyone in North Bay to come out and
volunteer. The easiest way to become a volunteer is to fill out the
application form online at www.operationrednose.com, then print out the
completed form, sign it and send it to the address indicated.

    Operation Red Nose in Canada

    The famous Operation Red Nose service, back on Canadian roads for a 25th
year, will be operating in seven Canadian provinces in 2008: Nova Scotia, New
Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia. More than
100 communities throughout the country will be hosting the program during the
holiday season.
    Since 1984, 738,124 volunteers of Operation Red Nose have provided no
fewer than 1,437,866 safe rides home in Canada. While the service is free,
donations are accepted. All donations made by clients are given to local youth
organizations and amateur sport organizations.

    Insurance Bureau of Canada is the national industry association
representing Canada's private home, car and business insurers. Its member
companies represent nearly 95% of the property and casualty (P&C) insurance
market in Canada. The P&C insurance industry employs over 108,000 Canadians,
pays more than $6 billion in taxes to the federal and provincial governments,
and has a total premium base of $36 billion.

For further information: Ellen Woodger, (416) 483-2358; James
Geuzebroek, (416) 362-2031 x. 4364; Brian Patterson, (416) 629-2890