Linda Coe Kirkham, executive director of Battlefords Concern For Youth, right, and the Operation Red Nose mascot during the launch of Operation Red Nose’s 2025 campaign at the Concern for Youth office in North Battleford on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By BattlefordsNOW Staff

OPERATION RED NOSE

Phones kept ringing as Operation Red Nose saw busier season in the Battlefords

Jan 5, 2026 | 1:56 PM

Snowy roads, bitter cold and holiday parties didn’t slow things down for Operation Red Nose in the Battlefords this year – if anything, they kept the phones ringing.

The volunteer-run safe-ride service responded to 160 calls for rides over a 12-night period, marking a noticeably busier season compared with recent years, according to Battlefords Concern For Youth, which runs the local campaign.

“We did significantly more rides this year than the previous two years, even though the weather was colder,” said executive director Linda Coe Kirkham.

“People still chose to go out and they chose to get home safely,” she said.

The campaign raised more than $11,400, exceeding its $10,000 goal, thanks to a mix of ride donations and support from the business community.

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Coe Kirkham said the largest corporate supporters were Strathcona Resources and Northland Power, alongside numerous smaller contributions from local businesses that encouraged staff to use the service during holiday events.

Beyond dollars, organizers also saw increased engagement from local businesses, some of which pre-booked rides for staff gatherings over the holidays.

“There’s a really big increase in the awareness of what the service is from the business community this year,” Coe Kirkham said.

The campaign ran with 12 volunteers, typically operating two or three teams of three each night. Most volunteers committed to multiple shifts.

“It seems that the interest in becoming a volunteer is increasing as well, and that’s a good problem to have,” she said.

The program was also supported by five local car dealerships — North Battleford Hyundai, Bridges, North Battleford Toyota, Valley Ford and Fun Dodge Jeep — which provided the escort vehicles used during the campaign.

Concern for Youth has already committed to running the program again next year, with volunteer recruitment set to begin in October.

“We absolutely are on board,” Coe Kirkham said.

All funds raised will support supplies and equipment for youth programs in the Battlefords.

Over the previous 15 campaigns, volunteers in the Battlefords had provided nearly 2,900 rides, supported by about 1,800 volunteers.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com