DONATED VW BEETLE FOR DARE PROGRAM A HUGE HIT WITH KIDS

Halton's DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program has been bugged.

On September 25, during the monthly Halton Regional Police Services Board
meeting, a 2003 VW Beetle -- decked out in full DARE regalia -- was
officially unveiled.

Donated by Oakville Volkswagen president/owner Mark Seibert, the silver bug
is already proving to be a hit with children.

"It's been in use for two weeks now and it's been an excellent ice-breaker
for the kids," said Const. Derrick Marshall, who oversees the program in
Oakville and has already received great feedback from students.

The DARE program, offered to all grade 6 students in Halton by specially
trained officers, provides children with the self esteem and will power to
refuse offers of drugs and alcohol, options how to deal with the stress of
peer pressure and the means to solve problems without resorting to violence.

"DARE is a program we've cherished," said Police Chief Ean Algar, who
explained that community support like Mr. Seibert's helps sustain this
important initiative.

Such "tremendous participation," Chief Algar continued, helps make Halton
Regional Police a better service and the region a "better community."

For his part, Mr. Seibert said that as the father of two children, he's part
of the community too and wanted to do something to help the program out.

"I felt this was perfect," said Mr. Seibert, who added that DARE deserves
all the recognition it receives.

Const. Marshall, who explained that the Beetle will also be an attraction at
special events, approached Mr. Seibert about the idea and since many
Volkswagen dealerships across Ontario already support DARE, the donation was
an easy sell. The car was ordered then completely decked out in familiar
DARE logos, Halton Regional Police crest and the words DARE Bug across the
front.

According to retired police sergeant and current DARE Halton chair Joe
Prasad, the program costs $500,000 a year to run in the region so every
donation is appreciated.

"A gift like this means so much. It really helps us," he said. "It links us
to the community."