Pubdate: Mon, 10 Apr 2006
Source: Edson Leader (CN AB)
Copyright: 2006 Edson Leader
Contact:  http://www.edsonleader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/780
Author: Chandra Lye
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

BRIGHT SPEAKERS BROUGHT TO SCHOOLS

Alberta Alcohol & Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC) teamed with  
Burlington Resources Canada Ltd to bring special speakers to the  
Edson area last month.

AADAC's co-ordinator for the presentations, Sherry Froehlich, said  
Burlington gave $10,000 towards the project.

"The collaboration was interesting," she said.

"It was a lot of hard work."

The coalition's mission was to encourage strong, healthy and vibrant  
communities free from the harmful effects that substance abuse cause.

"Youth are an important part of a healthy community," Burlington said  
in a press release.

"We understand there is a growing

concern in rural communities about how drug use is impacting our  
youth," it read.

Froehlich was able to bring in Norbert Georget, a well-known  
paramedic from Saskatoon and Steve Harner, a retired teacher from  
Calgary.

Georget aims his presentations towards high school kids and spoke  
about the hazards involved with drinking and drugs.

"He speaks of his experiences and it is graphic," Froehlich said, but  
effective.

His assemblies at Gerard Redmond School in Hinton and Parkland  
Composite High School in Edson went very well, he said, and he had  
received many positive comments.

Harner uses his love of magic tricks to communicate his message to  
the younger, elementary kids.

He has spoken to over a million students in high schools and colleges  
across Canada and the U.S. and also features on radio and TV talk shows.

"It is interactive," Froehlich said, "He pulled a rabbit out of his  
hat, and used a dove."

The show was put on at Pine Grove this year and nearly 400 students  
were there, she said.

The presentations were put on in one school in Edson, Drayton Valley  
and Hinton, due to cost.

This was one of Froehlich's last projects with AADAC because she will  
be moving to Edmonton at the end of the month and said she would miss  
Edson.

"It has been fabulous."
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MAP posted-by: Jackl