VALLEY STUDENTS TAUGHT HOW TO SAY "NO"

Grade 4 and 5 students around the valley have been taught how to say no to
drugs.

The DARE program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is designed to educate
students about drug abuse, prepare them for peer pressure, and teach them
eight ways to say no to drugs.

"It shows them that they have tools and choices they can make," said
Columbia Valley RCMP detachment Cst. Cathy Ford. "They've got ways to get
out of situations. There was that fear about it before; how do I get out of
this?"

Ford taught the classes at J.A. Laird Elementary School and Martin Morigeau
Elementary School. DARE was also taught at Edgewater Elementary School by
Cst. Derek Francis.

In the end 108 kids graduated from the program. Graduation ceremonies were
held in Canal Flats and Edgewater on May 4 and at Laird on Monday, May 10.

In order to graduate from the program, there were two requirements of the
students.

They had to sign a contract saying they would remain drug-free throughout
the program, and they had to write an essay on saying no to drugs.

"I have a right to a good life and DARE helped me realize that," Simon Wiebe
of Laird wrote in his essay.

The DARE program was brought for the first time this year to the Columbia
Valley by the RCMP. It started in Los Angeles, Calif. and has now expanded
to include over 50 countries around the world.

The 10-class program also teaches self-esteem, communication skills and
promotes a healthy lifestyle in the youth.

"I will stay drug-free and get a good start to life," wrote Clayton Terjesen
of Laird in his essay.