COUNCIL SUPPORTS DRUG-FREE ZONE

Council endorsed the high school's Drug Free Zone in principle after a
presentation by students and Crime Stoppers representative Peter Netherway
on Feb. 14.

Netherway told Council that an area could have "drug free" signs posted all
around it, but it won't work if all of the community's stakeholders aren't
supportive.

"Seventy-five per cent of students have said 'we don't want drugs in our
school'." said Netherway. "I think it's incumbent on us as adults to help
them."

He said that all of the community's stakeholders needed to write to the
Crown Attorney asking for enhanced penalties for violating the Drug Free
Zone that has been endorsed at the school.

BC doesn't have a marijuana problem, he said. Marijuana growers in this
province export 800 tons per year to the US in return for crack and
cocaine, or the cheaper alternative, crystal meth. Those are the drugs
being sold on the street today, he said, and in the schools.

The Zone takes in a two-block radius around the high school and includes
the swimming pool park.

Council plans to notify the Crown Attorney and RCMP of their support for
heavier penalties for infractions within the zone and will consider
providing signage.

The Gold Trail School District put aside $5,000 at their Feb. 22 meeting
for drug free zones at other high schools within the district. School board
chair Carmen Ranta says other zones are in the process of being set up.