RCMP OFFICER DARES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

It's hard to tell just who will be helped through a preventative program.

The RCMP's Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) is wrapping up for the
school year and the local DARE coordinator, Const. Brent Baulkham, took
time to remember some of the victories and tragedies he's seen during his
time with the program since 1997. "I had one kid ask repeatedly about how
to get a parent to quit smoking," says Baulkham. "Three weeks ago, I got a
note saying, 'Dad did quit. Thank you.'"

Baulkham spends 17 classes with every Grade 6 class in the division talking
about the consequences of drug abuse. The format will change a little next
year as Grade 6's will receive 10 classes and another 10 hours of follow up
instruction when they get to Grade 9. Grade 6 may seem a little young to
learn about the dangers of everything from tobacco and alcohol to crystal
meth and crack, but Baulkham says they're dangers kids in this community
are facing.

"We have 10-year-olds selling drugs," he says. "There are 8- and
9-year-olds smoking and experimenting with alcohol. It's very important for
them to understand the consequences.

"There's no empirical measure for DARE's success. But if one kid lives one
day longer or one year longer, I believe it's worth it."

The kid he may have helped isn't the only motivation for Baulkham. It's
also the one he missed, the one he took to hockey school and had with him
for a ride along. Baulkham grew close to the kid, even though he wasn't a
part of the DARE program. This year Baulkham had the young man's sister in
the DARE program. She read an essay at her Grade 6 DARE grad. It was about
her brother who died because of substance abuse.

"I spoke at the kid's wake," remembers Baulkham. "I don't ever want to do
that again."