D.A.R.E. EXPANSION FIRST IN CANADA

Dubbed the first in Canada, 'Project Hope' was kicked off last week by
the Hope RCMP and Fraser Cascade School District.

'Project Hope' is a new education strategy aimed at combating the
problem of Crystal Meth use in Hope.

"The link between drugs and crime is undeniable and affects the safety
of all citizens," said Krista Vrolyk, media relations officer of the
Upper Fraser Valley Detachment.

"The Hope RCMP is committed to addressing this problem to ensure the
safety of our community.... but "enforcement initiatives alone are not
effective."

Police and the Fraser Cascade School District have teamed up again,
under the umbrella of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE)
program, in order to reach out, not only to the youth for a longer
period of time, but their families.

Dubbed a community-based approached to a community-based problem,
'Project Hope' will broaden the years drug resistance education with
the youth as well engage the community. Community education sessions
outlining drug abuse and drug awareness will help educate and involve
the entire community in the fight against drugs, adds Vrolyk.

Community support behind the expanded program has been strong with
Robert and Jennifer Pelligrino and the Chilliwack and District Real
Estate Board both making unsolicited donations of $500 each, to help
cover costs of t-shirts and workbooks.

Corporal Sharon Cooke who heads up the RCMP Drug Awareness Services,
says the lesson curriculum will now start at Grade 3 with relationship
building, and encouraging dialogue. That beginning will hopefully
start a dialogue at home as well, added Cooke. The lessons learned
through the new integrated curriculum will be reinforced through the
pivotal years of Grade 5, Grade 7 and Grade 9.

The program is an effective part of a comprehensive drug and alcohol
prevention, Intervention and treatment curriculum, says Fraser Cascade
School District administrator Wes Neumeier.

"DARE is a concerted effort by the RCMP to provide our students with
life skills that they can use to avoid getting involved with drugs,
gangs, and violence," using the DARE decision making model of "define"
a problem, "assess" options and chances, "respond" to the problem, and
"evaluate" the outcome of your decision. A model that can be used by
anyone on any decision they face in life, says Neumeier.

"Although no program can replace good parenting that ensures strong
adult-child relationships based upon mutual respect and caring, DARE
programming goes a long way to helping students connect with the RCMP
as adult caregivers in their communities," adds Neumeier.

"We are pleased to work in partnership with the RCMP to expand the
DARE program to include age-appropriate, grades three, seven, and nine
programming. We recognize that early, consistent support by
knowledgeable and caring adults is effective in helping students
develop preventative attitudes and values."