When Parkland Composite High School principal Bob Tredger discovered that staff and students were concerned about illegal drugs entering the school, he didn't waste any time. After Tredger contacted Edson RCMP, a crew of officers were led by Cpl. Leon Fiedler of Stony Plain and his police dog on a drug search at the school last Thursday. On the first day of school, students were informed that their lockers are school property and are subject to random searches, but they did not know of the search taking place that day until the RCMP arrived, said Tredger. [continues 511 words]
Drug Addicts, Who Commit A Crime And Want To Avoid Sentencing, Should Be Required To Seek Treatment. Passionate Pen Rehab needs to be a prerequisite of Edson's new Healing Meth's Hurts program in order for it to be effective. Modeled on the youth justice committee, the program is funded by the provincial government and provides alternatives to substance abusers who commit non-violent crimes. Rather than go to prison or be placed under probation or house arrest, an offender may be asked to pay restitution. Victims can also work with program facilitators and suggest other ways to hold them accountable. [continues 319 words]
Apart From Individuals Gasping In Shock Every Now and Then, Not Even a Pin Drop Could Be Heard In The Silence. The audience was taken to the front line of car collisions by renowned speaker Norbert Georget at Holy Redeemer Junior/Senior High School last Monday. Georget, a former paramedic from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, who became sick to his stomach one day with the number of casualties he witnessed resulting from drug and alcohol abuse, decided to show students the aftermath of accidents through a slide show. [continues 517 words]
Edson's business community was reminded of the important role they might play in the life of a drug user. This discussion took place during a luncheon for the Edson and District Chamber of Commerce at the Best Western High Road Inn last Wednesday. The guest speakers were Edith Zuidhof-Knoop, co-chair of the Edson and District Drug Action Coalition (EDDAC) and Edson RCMP officer Glenn Henry, who came to talk about Edson's growing methamphetamine problem. "You are one of the most influential people in a user's life," said Zuidhof-Knoop. [continues 351 words]
A bill that may be a dream come true to some parents and an invasion of rights for their kids will proceed with its first reading on March 3. Bill 202, legislation that forces drug-addicted youth into treatment, will be introduced by Red Deer Conservative MLA Mary Anne Jablonski. "I'm doing this because of the number of parents that have come to me asking for help, desperate and heart-broken," said the MLA. "They tell me all the horrors -- children not coming home, not eating, honour students whose grades have gone down. And they have no more control over their child." [continues 394 words]
Drug Proofing Your Kids Is Possible. That's what parents will soon learn when the Edson and District Drug Action Coalition holds a course "How to Drug Proof Your Kids" this month. Six Edsonites became facilitators for the course last October and are ready to put what they learned into action. The facilitators will teach other parents about drug prevention and how to communicate with their kids. "The same principles can be applied from birth to the time when your children leave home. There are very few courses with that flexibility," said facilitator and co-chair of the Drug Action Coalition Edith Zuidhof-Knoop. [continues 457 words]
