DRUG AWARENESS WEEK COMING UP

The fight against drug and alcohol abuse will take centre stage as next
week is declared Drug Awareness Week by the Rainy River District Substance
Abuse Prevention Team.

Starting Sunday, the local SAP team, along with partners throughout the
district, will begin a week of activities as part of a province-wide
initiative designed to encourage young people to steer clear of drugs and
alcohol.

"It is just to show Fort Frances that you can have fun without drugs and
alcohol," SAP co-ordinator Brad Herbert said Friday.

Town council declared the week Drug Awareness Week at its regular meeting
Tuesday night.

This is the first time area First Nations have taken part in Drug Awareness
Week. All of the events being organized have been paid for by almost 20
sponsors, but SAP will be accepting donations so they can hold similar
events down the road.

"The response [from sponsors] has been great. It's phenomenal," enthused
Herbert. "Everyone is on board and really excited about this."

Drug and alcohol abuse has plagued the north for decades, he said.

"In our area it's huge," Herbert remarked. "In Northwestern Ontario, we
don't have the same problems as Toronto or bigger cities, but alcohol and
drugs are always present here."

He said more dangerous drugs such as ecstasy and cocaine are heading north
from urban areas. "It's an uphill battle," Herbert lamented.

Drug Awareness Week activities will include everything from a pancake
breakfast at the U.M.A.Y.C. Youth Drop-In Centre on Mowat Avenue on Sunday
at 7 a.m., followed by a sobriety walk at noon.

Opening ceremonies will be held Monday at noon at the Civic Centre as Fort
Frances ambulance, fire, police, and SAP discuss the issue of substance
abuse in the region.

An alcohol- and drug-free awareness fair will be at the youth drop-in
centre Monday at 6 p.m., followed by a youth workshop at 7. Then more
presentations and workshops are slated Tuesday at the Fort Frances
Volunteer Bureau (old CN station) starting at 6 p.m.

Wednesday will feature a soup kitchen at noon at the Joy of Life Fellowship
Church, a presentation by Dave Schwartz at the volunteer bureau at 2 p.m.,
and an open house from 1-4 p.m. at Oh-Shki-Be-Ma-Te-Ze-Win at Couchiching.

There will be another soup kitchen at the volunteer bureau at noon Thursday
and a variety show at 7 p.m. Friday's activities will include a feast at
the multi-use facility at Couchiching at 5 p.m., followed by presentations
at 6 and a dance at 8.

The week-long event will wrap up Saturday at the Joy of Life Fellowship
Church with a pancake breakfast at 7 a.m., a kids' fair at noon, a
community supper at 5 p.m., and entertainment by the "Steppers of the
Moving On Up Church" from Minneapolis at 6.

Similar events are being planned in Rainy River and Atikokan.

"I'm hoping a lot of people come out," he added. "I talk to people and they
can't believe it is free."