Volunteer is driven to help others

Nez Rouge ride- home program keeps streets safe during holiday season

Each holiday season has its predictable sights and sounds, but some are uniquely “Montreal.” Until Dec. 24, we explore the 12 faces of Montreal Christmas, looking at some of the people who play a role in making the holidays special in our city.

To refer to Pierre Provost simply as a volunteer driver for Opération Nez Rouge is accurate, but doesn’t quite do justice to everything he does for the organization.

He recruits and coaches new volunteers, helps spread the word about Nez Rouge year round, and takes time off from his jobs as a construction worker and mover to volunteer each December.

The popular drive- home service relies on the time and efforts of thousands of volunteers across Quebec and Canada. Provost’s friendly face has greeted people who have overindulged in Montreal for the last 11 holidays seasons.

“A friend was volunteering and suggested I come by and try it,” Provost said about how he first became involved. “I said, ‘ okay sure.’ I loved it. That season, I volunteered every night.”

That was in 2003. Provost says he remembers his first ride like it was yesterday. “We were driving a client back to Laval from downtown. We had fun, we talked. The clients we drive are always nice. There’s never been any violence, just some sickness, but that’s normal.”

He completed seven rides on Nez Rouge’s opening weekend this year, and even convinced one of his customers to try volunteering for the organization. Provost says he’s done that about 15 times over the years — at least.

Every ride home requires three Opération Nez Rouge volunteers: one person drives two others from the organization’s headquarters ( in Montreal, that’s at the CEGEP du Vieux Montréal) to the venue where the customer awaits. Those two volunteers drive the customer home in his or her car, followed by the first volunteer. The service is free but donations are encouraged.

Among the biggest changes Provost has noticed in his 11 years as a volunteer is the increase in Nez Rouge’s younger customers.

How does Provost feel about sacrificing his own evenings during the holidays, including turning down party invitations and leaving his girlfriend at home, to drive strangers home? He’s fine with it.

“Escorting people back, it’s a nice gesture.”

The organization’s volunteers have become like a family over the years, he said. “We’re helping people. That’s the best. If everyone did this, maybe there’d be fewer accidents. Maybe there’d be fewer drunk drivers out there.”