By Shaun Penner

Sober Gals

All-female driving service giving Grande Prairie women alternative ride home option

Feb 28, 2020 | 6:00 PM

A new designated driving service in Grande Prairie is offering women an alternative way to get home safely after a night out.

Sober Gals Designated Driving Services is entering its second week of operations in the Swan City, which is offered exclusively to women who may feel more comfortable taking a ride from a fellow female.

The business was started up by Kristine Sousa, who says she got the idea because she found for herself that when she needed a safe ride home, she would rather her vehicle-for-hire have a female driver.

“When I went out, I always felt more safe bringing my vehicle,” said Sousa. “Some companies, you can request a female. But I just thought, in my head, that if someone wanted a female driver, they’re not always in the best frame of mind to know to ask.”

Sousa says the business received its license near the end of 2019, and officially began operating on February 19 of this year.

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She says the early response to her new business shows it was a service that was needed in the Swan City, noting that in just a week’s time, their Facebook page had grown to over 500 followers.

“It’s been a really great, positive response. As well as speaking to the managers and owners in the bars, in order to put our cards there, has been great.”

She adds they have already partnered with the female social group “Camp Hoo-Ha” to be their driving service for their next meeting in March, and are looking to offer options like that to other ladies in the community.

Sousa says they will operate with a single team (dispatcher, driver and follow vehicle) from Sunday to Thursday, while having two teams on Friday and Saturday. She says they hope to grow the number of teams they have in the near future.

More details on Sober Gals can found on their Facebook page.