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PROJECT 'FIRST GOAL': REGINA PATS HOCKEY CLUB
 For the third consecutive year the Regina Pats Hockey Club has partnered with the Regina City Police and the RCMP to educate students on substance abuse through the program "Project First Goal". Our goal is to raise awareness in Regina schools about the effects of drug use.
Players from the Regina Pats, and members of the RCMP and the Regina City Police have volunteered once again to participate in presentations at various schools in and around the Regina area. Last year we were able to visit 16 Regina Elementary Schools and educate nearly 1000 students on substance abuse.
To increase their substance abuse knowledge, five Regina Pats players were escorted by the RCMP and the Regina City Police to Vancouver where they observed first hand the different effects that these substances have on individuals.
The Players will make approximately 10 - 15 school appearances over several months, speaking to students in grades 6 & 7 about what they experienced. The students will be shown a video and have the opportunity to ask the Players and members of the RCMP and the Regina City Police any questions they may have.
For further details on this program, please contact Kim Flaman @ 522-5604 or email
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We would like to give a special 'Thanks' to our sponsors who have once again made this program possible: Regina Leader Post, Canadian Tire, Crestview Chrysler, Brewsters Brewing Co., Conexus Credit Union, Old Dutch Foods, The Co-operators, Siganture Smiles, Coca-Cola and Francois Maisonneuve with Sutton Group Realty.
This past season, we added a new incentive into the program. The students at each school we visited had the opportunity to win a Regina Pats Team Autographed Jersey. We asked each student who wanted to participate, to write a one page essay explaining what they learned from our presentaiton and how they feel it will effect their lives. Once all of the essays were completed, we chose one lucky student and awarded them with a team autographed jersey. Alanna Bell, a student from Athabsca School was the lucky winner with her essay shown below.
On the 18th of January members of the Regina Police Station, Regina Pats and the RCMP came to teach students at our school about drug awareness. From this presentation I learned about addictions, the life as an addict and the skids of Vancouver.
I was surprised that in the skids there is usually an overdose a day and how narcan can reboot your body and bring you back to life after an overdose. The number of homeless people doing drugs in the skids was also very surprising. I was amazed how the police officers would just let the people use their drugs.
This presentation teaches the students how drug addictions can become very overwhelming, expensive and hard to get off. Drugs effect how you act it causes a complete change in personality and insomnia and paranoia are some of the most terrifying parts of addictions. The fact that an addict will take up to sixty hits a day and spend up to $600 was amazing but scary at the same time.
My opinion of different ways to prevent drug abuse are having better security on shipments and border control could help crack down on drugs. Keeping kids busy with after school activities, clubs and sports is also a great way to prevent drug abuse.
In conclusion I think this presentation was very helpful in educating students about drug abuse and addictions. Seeing life in the skids was shocking and terrifying, a definate good way to keep kids away from drug abuse. Thank you to the Regina Pats, RPS and the RCMP for educating us about drug abuse. Just say NO!
PROJECT 'KNOWLEDGE': FORT MCMURRAY OIL BARONS
The Fort McMurray Oil Barons have formed a partnership with the Fort McMurray RCMP Drug Unit to start a joint program called PROJECT KNOWLEDGE. The purpose of the partnership would be to form a working relationship between the Oil Barons organization and the youth of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.
Oil Barons Derek Klassen, Brent Upshall, Tyler Helfrich, Brad Reaney, Brendan Roberts and Dakota Dubetz traveled to Vancouver Sept 11-12th to meet with the Vancouver Police Department and the ODD SQUAD. The ODD SQUAD is made up of several Vancouver Police Department members that were at one time stationed with the Vancouver Drug Unit.
While in Vancouver the Oil Barons participated in the following:
- Visited the Children's Hospital and spoke to doctors and staff about children that are born to drug addicted parents
- Toured the Crime Laboratory
- Toured with the VDP Marine Unit and harbor police boat
- Participated in a VDP Drug Education Presentation
- Participated in police scenarios with the firearms simulator
- An "undercover" tour of duty in Downtown Eastside of Vancouver with members of the ODD SQUAD
The ODD SQUAD has formed a partnership with 7 teams from the WHL in the past, but the Oil Barons are the first Junior A team in Canada to participate in this drug awareness program.
The players upon their return will commit to 20 school visits within the season, with their police mentors, to grade six students from within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. The players will have photographs and a video presentation to assist them with relating their "Vancouver Experience" to the students.
The Oil Barons organization would like to thank the Fort McMurray RCMP Drug Unit, the Vancouver Police Department and the ODD SQUAD for allowing us to be involved in PROJECT KNOWLEDGE, we look forward to "making a difference" to our community.
By: Gord Thibodeau See: www.oilbarons.com.
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