Most important program

Donation to help children's future

Glen Vienneau
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 13/00) - Thanks to a corporate sponsorship, the RCMP's most highly regarded drug education program will continue to help youths in North.

Last Wednesday, the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program (D.A.R.E.) received a $10,000 boost from its major sponsor, the NWT Power Corp. (NTPC).

It was the second donation this year from the Crown corporation; the first donation was made last February.

"(It's) the most important program that the RCMP is involved in, in the North," said Superintendent Terry Elliott, criminal operations officer for G Division.

The program targets students before they enter middle or high school, and teaches how to recognize and resist the social pressures of tobacco, alcohol and drugs.

"One of the biggest problems we have in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut is substance abuse," added Elliott.

But, for an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 students in the NWT and Nunavut, the program will give them a fighting chance against substance abuse and to help them make better choices.

"It teaches them life skills such as conflict resolution, anger management, how to enhance self esteem, and learn what self esteem is," said RCMP Cpl. Charlotte Joa.

The donation will go towards the purchase of program materials such as workbooks and t-shirts.

For the corporation, making the donation is part of the company's mandate to supporting youth programs, said Peter Watt, NTPC's public relations officer.

"As far our company is concerned, we want to be aligned with a program which is run efficiently and delivers results," said Watt.

"We're a business, we're looking for a return on our investment, it's how you measure that return."

That's something D.A.R.E. does in spades.

The program is active in 14 communities in the NWT and six in Nunavut.