EX-COP WARNS OF DRUG PERILS

Banff Crag & Canyon - Unsuspecting Banff bar patrons are at risk of getting
more than expensive booze in their drinks - and that could ultimately put
bar owners and staff at risk.

That warning came last week from a retired Calgary police officer, who told
a small crowd of locals that bar owners need to be more vigilant about
stopping drugs from entering their premises, as they may be held accountable.

Drug use is a serious problem in Banff, and along with that drug use comes
risky behavior and the looming threat of date rape -- something that is
sometimes achieved by predators slipping drugs into drinks.

Because of this AIDS Bow Valley contracted retired Calgary police officer
Steve Walton so he could educate concerned members of the community on how
to cope with this problem at a public presentation at Wild Bill's on
Wednesday (July 30).

Walton said he wants people to realize that there is a correlation between
risky behaviour and street drugs. He also wants to get across that there
are sexual predators out there who use drugs to lower the awareness level
of their victims.

He said that Banff in particular has a highly evolved drug scene. The
community sees drugs in Banff that wouldn't be seen in other parts of Alberta.

"Some of the real psychedelic amphetamines that just haven't surfaced
anywhere else well, we see them here before we see them even in Calgary and
Calgary has a million people. You think (Calgary would) see drugs before
(Banff) does, but (Banff) sees drugs before we do in Calgary," he said.

"There is quite an evolved use of drugs in Banff and it's a transient
community. There is a lot of sexual activity that revolves around that and
it's not necessarily safe sex," added Vanessa Markham, public relations
health educator for AIDS Bow Valley.

"We want people to have an awareness on how drug use can affect your
decision making, particularly in terms of sexual activity."

In his hour-long discussion, titled The Dope on Dope, Walton, who spent 10
of his 25 years with the Calgary Police Service in the undercover drug
unit, also tried to get across the point that bar owners and managers need
to pay closer attention to their patrons, as they may be vicariously liable
should anything happen to them.

"In the bar industry there is a liability and people need to be more
vigilant and observant than I think they have been in the past because I
think bar managers and bar owners are going to be held liable," he said,
noting that is a trend in the United States.

Following the discussion Walton used the theoretical example of an
18-year-old woman who is raped after having GHB, a drug that mimics extreme
drunkenness, slipped into her drink.

"At the end of the day, once everything becomes clear, I'm going to wonder
how come that happened here and I'm going to hold the people (at the bar)
responsible and I think that is understandable," he said. "That's what
we're seeing in the States, so I just wanted to open people's eyes up."

Among those present at the Walton's presentation were people from AIDS Bow
Valley, the YWCA, AADAC and the Aurora night club.

There wasn't a great turnout at the event, but those who were there walked
away with a better understanding of drug culture.

"The more information the better. There is definitely a problem in Banff
and I think people should be aware of it," said Stacey Sartoretto, manager
and head of security for the Aurora night club.

The reason for the seminar wasn't because of an increase in drug use or
because of an increase in date rapes in the area. It was just to keep
people informed.

"We're not telling people 'Don't do drugs.' We just want people to be
careful, educated and make educated choices," said Markham.

Sgt. Don Pipher of the Banff RCMP detachment said he hasn't seen a visible
increase or decrease in drug use in Banff, but said there are drugs around,
there is "no doubt about it."

He also said there is rarely any indication of sexual predators in the area.

"There's been over the last five years a small number of cases where people
feel that maybe something has been put into their drink, but I mean a lot
of times you don't know for sure," he said.

He went on to say that in a community such as Banff, with a lot of people
from different areas of the country and the world, there is bound to be a
few bad seeds and there is bound to be drugs.

"I would always advise people in the bars to keep your drink tended. There
have been instances where it is a possibility that something has been put
in someone's drink. Never leave your drink alone. Never," he said.

The RCMP work with the bars quite closely and try to keep drug use down as
best they can.

A concerted effort in spring led to the execution of several search
warrants. Drugs were seized and several people were charged with drug
related offences.

Pipher said local cops also made some busts in the last month or so, with
more people being charged for trafficking drugs.

"We are keeping on it as much as we can," he said.