Floss, toothbrushes part of RCMP program to help kids
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Rankin Inlet (Feb 21/01) - Talk about brushing your way to success.
Const. Mario Vachon of the Rankin Inlet RCMP detachment has come up with a unique way for officers to connect with kids in sometimes difficult circumstances.
Chesterfield Inlet is also part of Vachon's beat A regular patrol in the hamlet led to the constable talking with travelling dentist, Dr. Kenneth Trefz of Vernon, B.C.
"I've been in the North three years now between Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet and I wanted to come up with a little something that would get me closer to the kids," says Vachon.
"The Teddy Bear program in the south doesn't really fit here, so I had been thinking of things that might work for months."
Turns out Dr. Trefz knew someone involved with the John O. Butler Co. -- of toothbrush and toothcare supplies fame -- in Guelph, Ontario.
He sent the constable a letter with all of the contact information and Vachon took it from there.
"I contacted the company and they were very receptive to my request.
"A week after they told me they had accepted my idea, 350 toothbrushes and 12-dozen packs of dental floss arrived."
Vachon says the toothbrushes come in handy in a number of different situations.
He says not only are the toothbrushes practical, they give officers a chance to strike up a conversation when kids approach them to ask for the toothbrush and they can help out in trying situations.
"The toothbrushes can be used when we attend calls where there's stress under a difficult situation.
"The child's attention becomes focused on the gift, rather than what may be happening around them."
The Rankin members received four sizes of toothbrushes, ranging from tot to teenager, and Vachon says he feels more comfortable with a healthy alternative to candy.
"There won't be any mass dispersals of the toothbrushes because I want this to be a long-term project.
"I don't want to be out of toothbrushes in two weeks, so they will be given out by officers on a one-to-one basis."
