LECLERC - INSPIRES YOUTH TO CHOOSE LIFE, NOT DRUGS

Aroomful of young eyes followed motivational speaker Serge LeClerc as he
recounted tales from his difficult youth and years in prison to students at
Columneetza Monday.

LeClerc spoke to Grade 6 and 7 students in the morning, followed by
Columneetza students and later he spoke at Anne Stevenson. LeClerc also
attended a breakfast at Williams Lake Secondary.

During his talks, LeClerc painted a picture of how during his first run-in
with the law in Ontario, the friends who had urged him along during break
and enters, were no where to be found when he needed them the most.

He spoke about how at the tender age of eight, he was placed in his first
correctional institution, where boys were often punished by being forced to
hold buckets of sand at shoulder height for as long as they were told.

If his hands started to drop, he was struck on the back of his legs, he said.

He was often ridiculed and told he was worthless by the man in charge of
the institution, a man he says has since gone to jail for his actions. As a
bully, this man was a coward, he said.

Drug abuse was another topic about which LeClerc was very knowledgeable.

"I've done it all," he said, in response to a question posed by an
elementary student. This included years of dealing drugs as well as using,
he said.

He said he had never met any drug addicts who had found their way to hard
drugs like crack and heroin before they first tried marijuana.

"People don't do drugs to feel good; they do drugs so they don't feel bad,"
he said. He stressed that if a person is doing something he enjoys and is
happy in life, they won't feel the need to turn to drugs.

LeClerc spoke about his belief in how "we are all created excellent.

"The secret of life is to not make the choices that stop you from being
excellent," he said.

After nearly 20 years in the prison system, LeClerc now holds several
degrees, and is a youth counsellor.

Near the end of his talk, he reminded students that they "are a generation
who needs to be challenged, but only in understanding how excellent you
truly are."