PROGRAM HAS STRONG SUPPORT

The editor:

At a recent Community Consultative Group meeting held at the Barriere RCMP
Detachment I advised the group's members that our DARE (Drug Abuse
Resistance Education) project needed an increase in funds in order to have
the program in place for the next school year.

Well, I would like to report that the community response to this much
needed program has been overwhelming. Our bank account in the past two
months has grown considerably and with the future efforts of more community
members, this program will be here to stay.

I can say without any hesitation that the benefits of this program will
affect every citizen of Barriere. At its heart, the program is designed to
equip elementary school children with the necessary skills to recognize and
resist social pressures to experiment with tobacco, alcohol and other
drugs. Many people believe that a change in public attitudes toward drugs
will reduce their use. DARE seeks to promote this change and instills
proper decision-making capabilities in children, skills they can apply to
all facets of their life.

This program helps kids develop confidence, self-esteem and interpersonal
skills, and reduces instances of violence and peer pressure.

It is our goal, the goal of the Barriere community, to teach this program
to every Grade 5 student, with follow-up lessons to be provided every two
years. One such Grade 5 student truly believed in the value of this program
so much that at the recent mud bog races he devoted his time to picking up
bottles and cans to be donated back to the DARE program. Adrian Dobson
could have kept the money for himself, however he donated over $80 back to
the program. When a student as young as Adrian does something so mature and
responsible, it makes all of the efforts worthwhile.

Speaking of efforts, that same weekend Mike Dewey of Boulder Mountain
Contracting donated $700 back to the DARE program and CrimeStoppers. He
worked the entire weekend as a first aid respondent and could have kept the
funds for all of his costs incurred. However he chose to give back in a
huge way. It would take me about 20 such letters to the editor to express
my gratitude for all the community support, however I'll leave it at these
two and examples of personal commitment to a worthwhile cause.

To all those who believe in this program and chose to help make our
community a safer place in which to live: You have my utmost respect and
gratitude.

Our next fund-raiser is the upcoming 911 Golf Tournament, where the
proceeds will again go back to DARE and CrimeStoppers. Please come out and
enjoy the fun, Sunday, Aug. 12.

Looking forward to the DARE graduation of 2002 - Const. Jeff Swann Barriere
RCMP Detachment