A group of citizens have created a new initiative to help find people a safe ride in Regina.

Safe and Sober Regina Rides started as an idea from Colleen Oakes to offer rides to people in need during the extreme cold that has lingered in the Queen City over the past couple weeks.

Oakes, along with family and friends, created the group on Facebook as a way to reach out to those needing to be picked up. In exchange, people have given items such as gas money, food or even clothing.

Oakes said one of the reasons she started the group was to protect her daughter after she was ripped off when offering a ride to someone. Two of her daughters are drivers in the Facebook group.

While her daughter wasn’t alone, Oakes became very worried for her daughter’s safety.

“In a matter of seconds, things could have been a different story,” she explained.

Another purpose for the page is for the admins like Oakes to monitor who is out driving and to warn drivers of people requesting rides who may be banned from their service for not adhering to their group’s rules, or those who pose a threat.

She said it’s about caring for people’s safety and making sure they arrive home or to their destination, but there also has to be a level of trust.

“A lot of young mothers don’t feel safe taking a cab anymore since there are so many missing and murdered indigenous women,” noted Oakes. “I’m sure if this existed over ten years ago, then maybe my cousin would be alive today.”

Colleen talked about how her cousin’s death still remains a cold case. She had been missing for a while – something that was out of character since she was always in contact with her family – before they found out she died in a house fire after investigators were able to identify her through her dental records.

Oakes admitted her disappearance and murder was part of the reason why she wanted to create this initiative, saying almost every family has been affected by missing or murdered indigenous women and girls.

When drivers are out assisting people who have requested rides, at least one other person accompanies them for safety purposes.

At the end of the day, it’s about helping people who are struggling.

“Like the single mothers because I was once there, I know how hard it is to raise kids on your own. I was fortunate to grow up with traditional values,” said Colleen. “Money is not really a big issue for us, as long as we’re able to help each other.”

Even though the service was started when the temperatures dropped around -30°C to -40°C, Oakes mentioned they will keep offering their service in order to protect women, elders, children and everyone in general needing a safe ride.