Operation Red Nose celebrates 2 million rides

In 1984, a math professor and swimming coach at Laval University had an idea — he'd help address the problem of impaired driving by getting members of his swim team to offer rides home to motorists who have had too many drinks to get behind the wheel. 

Thirty-two years later, that same man is still teaching mathematics at the university and he's also seen Operation Red Nose — known in Quebec as Opération Nez Rouge — grow into a Canada-wide organization.

Operation Red Nose's founding president, Jean-Marie De Koninck, celebrated his organization's 2 millionth ride in Canada on Saturday night. 

He said it's a special moment for his organization and for him personally.

"We started off Operation Red Nose in Quebec City in 1984. At that time, it lasted only 11 days and we gave 463 rides. Now, for the 32nd year, we're up to 2 million rides across Canada," De Koninck said.

He said his plans weren't ambitious when he first started the service. But since then, Operation Red Nose has expanded to cities in seven different provinces across Canada: Quebec, Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, British Columbia and Manitoba.

Operation Red Nose has also taken off internationally, with partners in overseas countries such as France and Portugal.

"It means a lot," he said. 

De Koninck says he's proud of what his organization has done to help educate people about the dangers of drinking and driving. ​

"There's definitely been a change in mentality. Certainly, Operation Red Nose has contributed to this change. So we're all proud — the big family of Operation Red Nose — we're all proud of this change in behaviour."