Mediterranean-style guitarist Pavlo was among the performers at Tuesday’s celebration, providing dance music for Mayor Marolyn Morrison and Director of Operations Stan Janes. It’s obvious the volunteers who pitched in this year with Operation Red Nose had a good time, but they also performed a vital service to the community.

And there are statistics to prove that.

The service threw a big celebration Tuesday night at Humberview Secondary School in Bolton to thank the volunteers and sponsors who aided the program.

In it’s second year in Caledon, Operation Red Nose offered drivers, who had been drinking, a free ride home in their own vehicle. With the support of local police and service clubs this campaign was created to keep the streets safer over weekends during the holidays.

The results, according to Director of Operations Stan Janes, were 321 rides were provided, up 97 per cent over last year’s program. He added 182 volunteers put in a total of 393 shifts, which started at 9 p.m. and could run as late as 4 a.m. They had 95 teams on the road, and 2,358 volunteer hours were put in. Sponsor dealerships supplied vehicles to the effort, and Janes said they put 8,171 kilometres on them.

Humberview’s Jazzork, directed by John Chalmers, provided some of the entertainment Tuesday night But the statistic he highlighted was the 717 passengers they got home safely. “That’s how many people we saved this year,” Janes declared, adding there were no alcohol related fatalities in Caledon while the project was operating.

Although there was no charge for the service, grateful clients made donations, which Janes said totaled $8,171. The result was contributions of $1,745 each went to Caledon OPP, Caledon Community Services (CCS), the Caledon Navy League and Optimist Club of Caledon. Constable Clyde Vivian expressed thanks for both the money and for sparing officers the ordeal of having to deal with alcohol-related fatalities. “We’re very happy for that.”

There was a lot of fun Tuesday night at the volunteer and sponsor appreciation night for Operation Red Nose. Diane Tolstoy was dancing with Operation Red Nose Mascot Rudy. He said the contribution would be going toward the Caledon Youth Leadership program and Peel Children’s Safety Village.

Fiona Ott, manager of fund-raising and communications for CCS, said their contribution would go toward the Life for Youth Program.

Anne Burleigh, representing the Navy League, said the money will be going to the Sea Cadets in Bolton. She said the group started a program two years ago to introduce the members to scuba diving, with an eye to assisting them get their certification.,

Ted Simmonds, representing the Optimists, called the program “really a win, win, win situation.”

“We had a great year,” Janes declared, as he observed all the numbers were up. They also praised the help received from the various service clubs, as well as a host of sponsors.

The program ran for 15 nights over weekends leading up to and during the holidays, and Janes said there were some volunteers who put in as many as five to seven shifts.

Caledon OPP Detachment Commander, Inspector Rose DiMarco expressed their appreciation for this effort to enhance community safety, as she marvelled at how people here “are motivated to act.”

“Caledon people have once again organized, and attacked the problem,” she added, as she looked forward to next year’s program.

Mayor Marolyn Morrison and her husband John were among those who volunteered for the program, recalling that she and Diane Tolstoy were working together on the dispatch phones.

“I’m in awe of all of you,” she told the volunteers, reflecting on the amount of time they gave up during the holidays. “What better loyalty can you have than caring about our community?”

Brian Patterson, president and CEO of the Ontario Safety League, was on hand as well, praising the success of the Caledon program. Operation Red Nose runs all over the province, but he said 10 per cent of the runs were performed in Caledon, and that’s just in the second year of it operating here.

He added there were some 8,000 volunteers working on the program province-wide, and the result was about 5,000 people arrived home safe. There were 12 communities where there were no alcohol related accidents reported while the program was operating.

“This community does it better than many,” he declared.

“We volunteer because we want to make a difference in the community,” Dufferin — Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones observed, as she thanks the volunteers for their commitment.