WE DARE TO BE DIFFERENT, SAY LOCAL YOUTH

A tearful Auxiliary Constable Michelle Poirier accepted flowers from the 22
enthusiastic students who took part in a DARE graduation ceremony at
Gabriola School last Thursday afternoon.

"It has been a pleasure to be around you and I've learned a lot," she said
after presenting a slideshow of some of the highlights of the highly
successful program that started January 15th and continued every Thursday
throughout the school year. "You are role models who will set strong and
positive examples in the future."

"I have a daughter and I wanted to be involved with kids in the community,"
she told the Sounder after presenting certificates with principal Linda
Case and teacher Glen Murphy.

"After writing an essay and being interviewed I was accepted into an
intensive two-week training course with 21 other future DARE auxiliary
constables," added Poirier, who moved to Gabriola with her husband RCMP
Constable Al Poirier last year.

Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) was developed in '83 in Los Angeles
and has expanded to over 50 countries. It has been part of the local
elementary curriculum for the past seven years. Uner the banner, "To Resist
Drugs and Violence," the joint venture involving police, school and
community educates children prior to entry into high school where they are
most likely to encounter pressure to use drugs.

Judging from the frequent applause of about 50 parents and sponsors -
Gabriola Lions Club, Memorial Cairn Association, Village Food Market and
Medicine Centre - assembled for the first local ceremony of its kind, DARE
and graduates have a bright future on the island.

DARE officer, Constable Beth Blackburn, said, "In the early '90s police in
Canada became proactive rather than reactive in dealing with substance
abuse issues, a major concern which infests families and youth."

She thanked the students for their "enthusiasm in learning skills and
acquiring assets - such as building self-esteem and dealing with peer
pressure consequences from choices they make - which you can bring forward
into your lives."

The students themselves, through essays and skits, shared what they had
learned about laws, the use and misuse of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and
other drugs. They also emphasized such skills as resolving stress without
violence and media awareness and "took a stand" by promising both
themselves and their families to lead drug-free lives.

While attending the DARE graduation at Gabriola School on May 27th, Larry
Holbrook of the Gabriola Memorial Cairn Association presented a cheque to
A/Cst. Michelle Poirier of the Gabriola RCMP. Larry, and other members of
the association, are in the midst of planning and preparation for the
upcoming 60th anniversary of D-Day on June 6th.

The cheque was a $300 contribution to the Bike Rodeo scheduled to take
place on Saturday, June 19th. The funds were raised through Remembrance Day
poppy sales, and will go towards the purchase of prizes and bicycle safety
equipment to be distributed to Gabriola youth.

The Gabriola RCMP wish to extend their appreciation to the Gabriola
Memorial Cairn Association for their dedication to local youth.