Students throughout School District 62 know how to say “no” and about the dangers of harmful habits thanks to the RCMP-led DARE program.
DARE, Drug Abuse Resistance Education, teaches school age children to stand up to pressure to smoke, drink alcohol, take drugs or engage in other troublesome behaviours.
Andrew Meadley and Avry Bilodeau are Grade 6 students in Donna Dickinson’s class at Happy Valley elementary school and new graduates of DARE.
They said they have learned about the dangers of drug and alcohol use, along with ways to stay away from bad influences.
“A lot of things can persuade you, like signs in places, commercials,” Meadley said. “I think it’s really awesome because now that I know more stuff about it, now I won’t take any stuff.”
“I always knew that smoking and stuff was bad,” said Bilodeau, “but now I know exactly why and all the stuff that can happen to you. It’s fun learning about all the stuff because then you know what to do if you ever get in a bad situation.”
West Shore RCMP constables and DARE officers Joanne Harrisson, Brian Lucas and Cole Brewer taught the course.
“There are multiple benefits in teaching kids tangible assets in self-confidence, in knowledge and awareness of peer pressure,” Harrisson said.
“It’s such an amazing opportunity to get in and learn from the kids that we teach. It’s something that I look forward to every week.”
This month students at school’s in SD62 are graduating from the DARE program and received certificates of completion and free movie admission vouchers, care of Caprice Showcase Cinema Langford.