This holiday season, Portage la Prairie residents will not be afforded the typical safe ride service home after a night of partying.

That's because Operation Red Nose announced it's ceasing all operations for the 2020-2021 campaign.

Local coordinator Leo Lapointe says even though they won't be physically present, you'll still notice them.

"We're still going to be there to tell people don't drink and drive, stay safe this holiday season, call friends, call a cab, or have a Plan B if you do go and have drinks," he says. "We still don't want you to drink and drive."

Portage isn't the only region to be affected by the closure. Brandon, Flin Flon, Gimli, Selkirk, Shilo, St. Malo, The Pas, Thompson, and Winnipeg have decided not to offer Operation Red Nose this year as well. Usually, donations from the service are funneled back to the Portage Minor Hockey Association.

Lapointe says COVID-19 is to blame for the cancellation of this year's designated driving service, but they hope to be back behind the wheel in the community for next year.

"Being the year that we started with in March, it just went from there, because there's businesses and everything closed. So, it trickled down, and it came down to that COVID-19 took over, and unfortunately, we're dealing with what we're dealing with now. We're still going be there for everybody to get the word out. Don't drink and drive," he says. "There's always next year when we will be back in full force, and being physically out there driving."