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Mystery dinner held over the weekend for D.A.R.E. Program

October 18, 2018   ·   0 Comments

Written By JASEN OBERMEYER

The Drug Abuse Resistance Program (DARE) held a murder mystery dinner this past Saturday (Oct. 13) to raise much-needed funds for the program, and enjoy a night out.

Over 200 people, including members of Caledon Council, attended the annual event at the Caledon Estates Banquet Hall. Guests enjoyed dinner, drinks, raffle and prizes, as well as a murder mystery. The money raised will go towards student workbooks, certificates and officer training for the program.

“We tell them what it’s all about, the program is very intense. It helps them make better decisions in life,” explained Project Manager Valerie Arnold-Judge to the Citizen.

DARE is an education program that seeks to prevent use of controlled drugs, membership in gangs, and violent behaviour. It was founded in Los Angeles in 1983 to help combat the War on Drugs, and is now taught in more than 50 countries. Its mission is to teach students good decision-making skills to help them lead safe and healthy lives, to resist peer pressure and live productive drug and violence-free lives.

Each year, an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer delivers the D.A.R.E. program to 1200 Grade 6 students in Caledon. For the 2018-19 school year, it will be Officer Pablo Perreira.

“It’s a great night,” he said. “It’s great to see people come together and support the program.”

With the legalization of marijuana now, Officer Perreira explained they would include a segment in the teachings on the history and legalization of the drug, while still reiterating to students to make the right choices in life.

“We’ve always said the same thing,” noted Ms. Arnold-Judge. “Marijuana is a gateway drug.”

She added members of DARE, and parents, are concerned about the legalization, and how the program will be able to address it. “It’s going to be hard.”

For more information on the program, visit dare.org.

         

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