DARE WINNERS 'SPEAK VOLUMES'

Winners Chosen From 75 Entries

Five area students were recognized for their grasp on drug and alcohol
awareness -- and for setting an example for their peers.

Many adults, too, could learn a lot from Jerome Freeman, Kaitlin
Dasilva, Mikayla Rae, Dakota Graves and Jenna Waslowski, each of whom
wrote winning essays about what they learned during the OPP's Drug
Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program.

Area politicians, police, parents and volunteers gathered at Staples
Business Depot recently to congratulate the kids and listen to them
read their winning submissions.

Each student explained what they learned and why they planned to make
wise decisions regarding drugs, alcohol and violence.

First-place winner Freeman, a student at Foley Catholic School, said
sports were "very important" to him, and that's why he won't use drugs.

Dasilva, a Monsignor Lee School student, cited the heartbreak of
families that watch loved ones "take the wrong path."

The issue hit home with Uptergrove Public School student Jenna
Waslowski.

"I knew someone who did drugs, and now he is dead," she
said.

Rae, a student at Marchmont Public School, loaded her essay with
hard-hitting facts and statistics about impaired driving and
cigarettes, while Dakota Graves of Coldwater Public School described
the various types of peer pressure.

"These young adults are going to teach our community -and do teach our
community -the rights and wrongs," said Severn Township Mayor Phil
Sled.

The students were also praised by Don MacNeil, chair of the Police
Services Board, who told the kids to be on the ball when they get to
high school.

"Just remember what you learned during this course, and say no," he
said.

The five essays were chosen from 75 entries, all of which were read by
parent Sheila Groen.

"It was a thrill to read all of them. They were all really thrilled
with the style of learning (in the DARE program)," she said, adding
the students all made their own commitments to making healthy and wise
choices.

Orillia OPP Const. Gerry Dwyer, who delivers DARE education to area
schools every year, said the youth perception of law enforcement is
improving.

He was in Tim Hortons recently when he saw two high school students
who had taken the DARE program in elementary school.

"They looked at me as a person and not just a police officer," Dwyer
said, adding it "speaks volumes" to the effectiveness of police
involvement with young students.

Insp. Terry Wright, Orillia detachment commander, commended the
volunteers for running a program with a dedication he hasn't seen in
nearly three decades of police work, and Staples for donating the
prizes and being involved with DARE for three years.