DARE PROGRAM ROLLING ALONG; PROGRAM REACHES A DOZEN CITY SCHOOLS

It's come a long way in a short time, but those behind the DARE (Drug
Abuse Resistance Education) program want to see it become even more
of a household name.

The program, coordinated by City of Kawartha Lakes OPP community
services officer Const. Mark Boileau to help teach grade 5s and 6s
the dangers of drugs and bullying, began in five classrooms in 2006.
By June, DARE will have reached some 1,300 youngsters in all of the
dozen schools in the detachments jurisdiction in the balance of the
Kawartha Lakes outside of Lindsay and the former Ops Township.

The rewards of the nine-week program are already being seen, said
Paul Cross of Lindsay Pontiac Buick, a major sponsor of the program
that has recently significantly stepped up its financial support for it.

He recalled, during a recent parade, the excited reaction a youngster
had upon seeing the programs mascot, Daren the Lion, whose smiley
face also adorns the DARE vehicle the dealership continues to sponsor.

And the program isn't just popular among the kids. There has been an
overwhelmingly positive response from teachers, parents and community
partners, Boileau said.

"People are recognizing the name out there," he said.

Lindsay Pontiac came on board because of how the program "gets to the
roots of the community," Cross said.

"They talk about topics (the youth) are going to, inevitably, be
faced with," he said, explaining how the program also breaks down the
barriers police officers face when it comes with dealing with youth.
The program helps create a positive view of police, not the
negativity that might form if a youngster finds themselves on the
wrong side of the law, Boileau said.

DARE aims to prevent that from happening in the first place.

With three kids of his own, Cross said he hopes the program will
eventually completely change the way youth think.

"Advancing this in the school will really change the views of
youth...this is a win-win scenario," he said.

"This is not just another program out there."

The OPP detachment is encouraging the community to continue to
support DARE, and help the program grow, Boileau said, adding how
grateful he is of the support shown so far.

"It gives a sense of stability in that we can train more officers and
get it out to more students," he said.

With the contributions of Lindsay Pontiac, the detachment is training
other officers to deliver the program. Const. Carrie Lanning has
already joined those ranks.

Service clubs, local business and even individual citizens have
financially supported DARE and that help is what is needed for it to
continue to flourish, Boileau said.

"Everybody has to be involved," he said. "It's all about community
working together to get a message out."

Aside from training officers, money donated to the DARE program also
goes towards supplies, including program workbooks and t-shirts.

It was Boileau himself who first suggested bringing the DARE program
to the City of Kawartha Lakes, having been involved with it since
1996 at other detachments. Soon, detachment commander Insp. Bob Walli
threw his full support behind it.

DARE has come a long way in a short time, which Boileau said he hopes
will be a sign of its future success.

"The community has helped it along," he said.

For more information or to donate to the DARE program, call City of
Kawartha Lakes OPP Const. Mark Boileau at 324-6741.