Pubdate: Sat, 29 Mar 2008
Source: Moose Jaw Times-Herald (CN SN)
Copyright: 2008 The Moose Jaw Times-Herald Group Inc.
Contact: (306) 692-2101
Website: http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2154
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Author: Lacey Sheppy

MOOSE JAW DRUG STRATEGY HAS NEW CO-ORDINATOR

Counselling middle school students affected by  substance abuse led 
Greg Veillard to his new position  as co-ordinator of the Moose Jaw 
Drug Strategy.

Veillard, a teacher and counsellor for 30 years at  public schools in 
Moose Jaw and Craik, replaces former  co-ordinator Kristin Earnst, 
who has gone on to work at  probation services full-time.

"I had a general interest in addictions and drugs and  alcohol issues 
over the years," said Veillard. "This  opportunity came up and it 
looked rather interesting."

Veillard retired last June from the Prairie South  School Division 
after spending the majority of his  career working with students in 
Grades 6 to 8.

"I worked at all the public schools on a weekly basis,"  he said. 
"There were some (students) that had  addictions issues and - 
probably more frequently -  there were kids that age affected by drug 
and alcohol  addiction in their family lives."

As drug strategy co-ordinator, Veillard will work with  the MJDS's 
four committees - prevention, harm  reduction, healing continuum and 
community justice - to  co-ordinate activities in order to achieve 
goals set  out in the three-year plan.

"Part of my role will be to attend monthly meetings,"  he said. "I'll 
do a little bit of research, co-ordinate  the groups and keep things on track."

Some of his first work will include investigating  special drug 
courts - like those in Regina - with the  community justice 
committee, training in developmental  assets for youth with the 
prevention group and helping  the healing continuum organize a forum 
about the  stigmas associated with addictions.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom