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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Two Vancouver police officers were in Yellowknife last week to share their stories of life on the streets of Vancouver's notorious downtown east side.

In addition to their police work, Sgt. Toby Hinton and Sgt. Mark Steinkampf are members of the Odd Squad, a non-profit production company consisting of police officers who film the drug-riddled streets of the "skid."

Vancouver Police Sgt. Toby Hinton is part of the Odd Squad, a police formed non-profit production company. He and Sgt. Mark Steinkampf were in Yellowknife to educate the public about drug abuse and their experiences working Vancouver's notorious downtown east side. - Cara Loverock/ NNSL photo

The films were made to educate the public about the perils of drug addiction, Hinton told an audience at the Tree of Peace on Wednesday evening. "To show (youth) the end of the line because we work at the end of the line," he said.

The Odd Squad has produced a number of films, most notably Through a Blue Lens, in conjunction with the National Film Board. It documents the lives of drug addicts living in Vancouver's downtown east side and the unique relationship the officers have with them.

The Odd Squad was able to come North thanks to the John Howard Society.

In addition to the Tree of Peace, Hinton and Steinkampf visited Dettah and K'alemi Dene school in Ndilo.

"Kids there were very receptive to our message," said Steinkampf.

"It's difficult to compare with other communities," said Hinton. He said the drug-infested area of Vancouver stands out compared to any other places in Canada, because it is so extreme. "You can take out of that a really strong message," said Hinton in reference to the squalid state of downtown Vancouver.

Steinkampf said the relationship he and other officers have with the addicts on the Vancouver streets is unique and they often see the same people on a daily basis.

"You get to know people's histories," he said, adding that you can't help building a relationship. "We're human and they're human. They've just made some unhealthy choices that put them where they are."

The two men also paid a visit to inmates at North Slave Correctional Centre and the North Slave Young Offender's Facility. Hinton said it was a good experience to visit prisoners, as people who are responsible for sending offenders to jail. He said in Vancouver he will sometimes bring youth who are experimenting with drugs on his beat to show them the realities of drug addiction and where it can lead.

"I'll let the addicts talk to the kid," explained Hinton. "You can tell it jars their world view a bit."

The Odd Squad has spread the anti-drug message across Canada and internationally. Prior to coming to the North, Steinkampf was in Dubai to speak on the topic.