Timmins grade six students who registered for the Timmins Police DARE program received graduation certificates in ceremonies held at Ecole Secondaire Theriault, last week.
“The DARE program teaches school age children the tools for making informed choices and how to stand up to peer pressure and choose not to partake in drug use and other behaviour such as bullying, “ said Constable Rick Lemieux, the DARE police officer in Timmins.
“DARE teaches a simple, but powerful technique to students to resist the pressures of recreational drug use by developing analytical skills, which can be used to make wise choices in life,“ he added.
Four classes from two schools participated in the afternoon graduation ceremonies last Thursday at Ecole Secondaire Catholique Theriault - Ecole St – Gerard, Ecole Anicet Morin.
Also on hand were Timmins Mayor Steve Black who is the chair of the Timmins Police Services Board; Staff Sergeant Danny Charest, represented Police Chief John Gauthier and Francine Denis, from DARE Timmins.
In addition, Sensei Willy Lebrun from Timmins Wado Kai and Alexya Racicot a grade 11 student from Ecole Secondaire Catholique Theriault rounded out the dignitaries who helped to hand out the certificates and miniature Daren the DARE Lion toy to the graduates.
Lebrun spoke about the importance of developing self confidence through athletics and programs offered through various martial arts training.
Alexya Racicot is the Timmins youth representative to the North America DARE program advisory board which helps to provide it with direct youth input in shaping its programs.
Four valedictorians gave speeches on the importance of the DARE program and why what the learned was important for resisting the peer pressure of trying drugs or alcohol.
They are Gracia N’Lobetcho (St-Gerard), Maxim Robinson-Ethier (Anicet Morin, 6a), Emma Belanger (Anicet Morin, 6b) and Jessica Boileau (Anicet Morin, 6c).
DARE stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education.
DARE Timmins was established in 1994. The program is an ever evolving, evidence-based educational tool that helps youth understand the importance of good decision making skills so that they can live safe and healthy lives. DARE Timmins currently educates over 600 local students each year in both French and English languages.
The program is provided to students through the partnership between the Timmins Police Service and four local school boards. DARE. is provided in both French and English languages and is facilitated by one of two instructors (Cst. Rick Lemieux or Cst.Bill Field).
The DARE "keepin' it real" elementary curriculum is based on the Socio-Emotional Learning Theory (SEL). SEL identifies fundamental, basic skills and developmental processes needed for healthy growth including: self-awareness and management, responsible decision making, understanding others, relationship and communication skills, handling responsibilities and challenges.
“The Timmins Police Services Board from senior administration staff to constables support the DARE program and what a great service this is to the community,” said Timmins Mayor Steve Black, who is also the chair of the Timmins Police Services Board.
“For reaching out to the youth of our community and engaging them in discussions about things that could impact their lives for years to come,” Black said.
Black spoke about his own experience, not with drugs with cigarettes, coming from a family where both parents smoked.
“My parents both smoked,” Black said. “My father had health problems even when I was a young boy, having a heart attack when I was in grade six.
Mayor Black indicated that his parents didn’t have programs like DARE to teach them about the impact of tobacco and how to resist the pressure to start smoking and how to make wise decisions.
“What I hope you have learned from DARE program is to think about the decisions you make and how they impact not just you but also the people around you.
“I am sure when my father started smoking he never thought that 30 years later he was going to be lying in a hospital bed with his family around him wondering if he was ever going to be able to walk out of the hospital again, as we waited for a donor so he could have a lung transplant.
"Same with bullying, you might think it is fun taunting someone," Mayor Black said, "but stop to think about what impact that may have on the child."
The DARE lessons teach youth to be aware of their impulses and learn to analyze the risks and consequences of caving in to their impulses, resulting in more responsible choices.
“We believe that if you can teach youth to make safe and responsible decisions, he will make healthy choices about not only about drugs but across all parts of their lives,” said Constable Lemieux.
