Less than a month before the start of its campaign, Opération Nez rouge unveiled details of its 2023 edition in the Vaudreuil-Dorion and Salaberry-de-Valleyfield regions. Dignitaries and members of the media were on hand on Wednesday, November 1, at the Manoir Grant in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. 

Nationally, ONR is celebrating its fortieth anniversary, which since 1984 has enabled it to offer a safe return to more than 2.4 million people during the holiday season. 

This year, Dany Turcotte, former "fou du roi" on Tout le monde en parle, assumes the role of spokesperson for Opération Nez Rouge. 

A presence in the region for over thirty years 

More locally, ONR has been present in the Vaudreuil-Dorion area for 30 years now, having established itself in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield two years before that, 32 years ago. 

"In 2022, we made 326 homecomings in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield and 288 in Vaudreuil-Dorion over eleven homecoming evenings. This year, we're aiming for more, due to the lifting of the latest COVID-19 health regulations, but also because three additional drive home evenings are planned," says Jessica Mathers, Executive Director of Répit Le Zéphyr, the beneficiary of Operation Red Nose in the area. 

The first weekend of activity for ONR will take place on November 24 and 25. After that, the organization will offer its drive-home services on December 1-2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 29, 30 and 31. 

Volunteers needed 

"As in the past, we are looking for volunteers to take on a variety of tasks on drive-home evenings. Volunteers can be assigned to the front desk, the call center or out in the field as drivers, escorts or chaperones. We're also recruiting people interested in accompanying the mascot to bars, public places and private company parties," she adds. 

In fact, private companies who would like Nez Rouge to make a stop at their holiday party can send a request by e-mail to [email protected]. 

"Companies can also purchase drive-home coupons to give to their employees during a holiday gathering. It's a great way to make sure they get home safely," she says. 

Once again this year, volunteers who register before November 24 have a chance to win a prize. "From all the entries received in Quebec, we will draw four sets of winter tires. The prize also includes the installation and balancing of the tires, up to a maximum of $1,200. A trip worth $7,000 will also be offered among our volunteers, thanks to the contribution of our partner Voyages Gendron. This will take the winner to Mexico or the Dominican Republic for seven nights and eight days in a Club Med hotel."

Safe rides for a good cause

As in the past, the organization benefiting from the funds raised by the ONR campaign is Répit Le Zéphyr. On a day-to-day basis, this organization offers respite and babysitting services to families in the Beauharnois-Salaberry MRC, Haut-Saint-Laurent MRC and Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC, with one or more dependents diagnosed with an intellectual disability (ID) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). 

"The money raised by ONR will enable us this year to offer reduced-rate home-sitting hours to our clientele. Last year, for example, we received $37,000 from the ONR campaign in the region. This amount came from sponsors, rides, the sale of promotional items and donations collected by the mascot during his visits to bars and businesses in the region," summarizes Ms. Mathers. 

For Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, the call center will be located at Camp Bosco. It can be reached at (450) 371-4848. For Vaudreuil-Dorion, volunteers will take calls directly from the Omni-Centre at (450) 424-4011.