The City of Moose Jaw is partnering with the Moose Jaw Police Service and SGI in the Crown corporation's 'Wing in the New Year' campaign.

The ride-for-free-on-New-Year's-Eve campaign will see Moose Jaw Transit and Para-Transit offer free bus service from 7:55 pm through 3:15 am on December 31st.

Craig Hemingway is the Communications Manager for the City of Moose Jaw. "It's about offering people a free ride to celebrate the New Year. We appreciate SGI sponsoring the program again this year, allowing Moose Javians who are out celebrating the New Year to get a safe ride home."

Warren Michelson is the MLA for Moose Jaw North. He said it's important to offer this type of service. "It really is a safety factor. We know people like to celebrate on New Year's Eve, and rightfully so. But the safety of getting people to and from...we know that they'll be consuming alcohol, and possibly cannabis - which is legal now - that's an added dimension of issues we have to face."

Moose Jaw Police Service Sergeant Kevin Pilsworth said the free bus service is one part of what the community does to keep people safe on New Year's Eve. "The fact that we had only one person charged with impaired driving last New Year's Eve probably speaks to a lot of the things we're doing as a community. To have SGI and the City do something for this length of time, for 30 years, they should be congratulated. There's no doubt in my mind that it's definitely helped keep impaired drivers off the road."

Steven Loptson is the Transportation Manager for the City of Moose Jaw. "Historically, we've seen low ridership on New Year's Eve. One of the reasons for our promotions this year is to try and get people on. That's why we're stopping at Mosaic Place and the Legion. We want to encourage as many people as we can to ride the bus."

Mayor Fraser Tolmie said it's important to push hard on this initiative. "We want our community to be safe, And we want people to plan ahead. If they know there's an opportunity to use the transit service we provide, that's good planning. We're giving people an option to look at." Tolmie said the goal is to reduce the number of people charged with impaired driving. He said one person being charged with impaired driving is one too many. "We want [people] to be safe. We want them to have fun. Part of being a wingman is that you've got someone's back. We want to say, as a city, that we've got your back. If you're planning ahead, then you've got an option. And if your plans fall short, you still have an option."

This is the 30th year for free New Year's Eve bus service. Moose Jaw Transit offers two new pick-ups: One on First Avenue Northwest in front of Mosaic Place, and the other on High Street West in front of the Royal Canadian Legion.

SGI's 'Wing in the New Year' campaign cascades off of their 'Be a Good Wingman' initiative, which encourages people to not let their family or friends drive while impaired.

For transit route information, click here.