CONFERENCE STANDS STRONG AGAINST DRUGS

Wetaskiwin Community Solutions hosts Standing Strong Against Drugs conference

"I'm not here to tell you drugs and alcohol are bad and you should
never take them, but I want you to know you have a choice."

Jenn Beaupre, one of the wild card contestants on the first series of
Canadian Idol, told youth her stand against drugs and alcohol at the
Standing Strong Against Drugs conference, Oct. 20 and 21.

The conference, hosted by Wetaskiwin Community Solutions Substance
Abuse Awareness committee, played to both adults and youth.

Beaupre used herself as an example. She made the choice in Grade 6
not to use drugs and alcohol after seeing the way students in her
school acted when they were drunk. She is now in her 20s and still
holding strong to her resolution.

"You can still be cool and make different choices than using drugs
and alcohol. Look at me, I'm cool, I'm speaking to you and I've never
touched a drop of alcohol in my life."

As well as speaking on the issue of drugs and alcohol, Beaupre talked
about bullying. She listened to stories from youth in the audience
and got their ideas on how they can cope in bullying situations and
what they can do for others who are being bullied.

Beaupre, who said she was bullied when she was younger, even showed
pictures of herself when she was much younger and not so cool.

She also gave her young audience a piece of homework before heading
back on-stage to sing a few more songs to end the evening.

"When Monday comes, I want you to apologize to one person you might
have hurt," she challenged them.

While Beaupre spoke to the youths, adults also learned about the risk
of drugs as well as ways to deal with it.

The conference began by speaking to employers about drugs in the
workplace; how common the issue is and how to deal with staff using drugs.

The Saturday sessions of the conference included Patricia Morgan, a
mother whose daughter was a drug addict. She told attendees how to
love a child in challenging relationships.

Speaker Julian Madigan came close to being an Olympic athlete before
his addiction to drugs stopped his promising career. He spoke to the
audience about his journey and joy in recovering.

Serge LeClerc shared a unique story. Being the product of rape and
growing up in the inner city of Toronto, LeClerc spent 21 years in
prison. Now he is one of North America's leading expert on youth and
addiction issues.

Closer to home were messages from the Edmonton Green Team and their
stand on drugs in Alberta's capital city as well as Edmonton RCMP
K-Division Sgt. Ian Sanderson, who provided conference-goers
information on the affects of drugs, the drug-scene in Alberta and
how to be drug-proof.

This is the first time Wetaskiwin has hosted a conference such as
this, but organizers found a lot of positive feedback from it.

"(The conference) was very well received," noted Community Solutions
committee chairman Bill Elliot.

"The turnout was good, but we certainly could have handled more.
Saturday was well received, but we expected more (people) at the
employers conference."

He also recognized the hard work Community Solutions co-ordinator
Lisa Wojna put into making the conference successful.

"Lisa did an outstanding job organizing this entire event. I had
comments saying this was the best line-up of speakers they've had at
any conference. She needs to be commended for her work ," he said.

"And thanks to the entire committee, they were there the entire time
and did what needed to be done."

Elliot said the Community Solutions committee will sit down to
re-evaluate where they are at.

"We need to be looking at getting the total community to stand
against drugs," he noted.