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By John McDonald
A surge in serious crimes – murder, sexual assault, fraud, child pornography – has forced Kelowna RCMP superintendent Bill McKinnon to axe the anti-drug DARE program delivered to schools in Kelowna.
“It’s absolutely everything from murder to robberies to pornography to PIN frauds,” said McKinnon. “It’s the number of complaints we’re getting, as well as regular calls for service. We’re feeling considerable pressure here right now.”
The DARE program – it stands for drug abuse resistance education – is used in schools throughout North America, primarily in Grades 4 and 5.
In Kelowna, an RCMP officer teaches the program full-time, in addition to appearances by other officers, during the ten-lesson program.
McKinnon said the money used to fund that position will be diverted to bolster the Central Okanagan major crimes unit.
The program will end Jan. 1. Seven elementary schools in Kelowna were scheduled to host the program in the spring and 14 have already hosted it.
McKinnon said the DARE program was delivered 65 times in Central Okanagan schools last year.
The cancellation does not affect Central Okanagan school district schools in Lake Country, West Kelowna and Peachland, where the RCMP detachments are funded separately.
School board chairman Rolli Cacchioni said he is disappointed, but understands the budget pressures that led to the decision.
“We would prefer it continue, but it’s not our decision to make,” he added.
He said the district is looking at replacing the DARE program with either a locally developed program or one in Surrey that is shorter and requires less resources.
As well, the district is going ahead with Blast Off, an anti-drug program aimed at Grade 7 and 8 students.
That program would see members of the Kelowna Rockets addressing school assemblies about what they saw during a recent escorted tour of Vancouver’s notorious Downtown Eastside.
The school board approved the Blast Off program in principle during the last school board meeting, subject to review of the course material by school principals.
john@kelowna.com
250-575-0521
2 Responses to “Increase in major crimes forces cancellation of school-based DARE program”
Tags: DARE, major crimes, RCMP
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This is really upsetting. In times that crime is at an all time high isn’t the education of our youth and the investment in prevention not a critical piece of the solution?
It is sad that we are forced to make decisions based on the almighty dollar.
Is it possible to have volunteers over see the program or have students requiring a practical learning experience pick up the slack?…what about local orgainzations who are already set up to offer programs, could the idea not be proposed that D.A.R.E be offered through or by them?
I do realize that any program, even when over seen by volunteers, requires a budget but by using volunteers and students the cost could be decreased as would the time demand on current RCMP officers.
Eliminating vital eductaion that prepares our youth for the future is going to add to the already overwheelming problems RCMP are currently dealing with.
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The time and effort put into the D.A.R.E program has been just that, an investment in our youth.This is the scenario of being proactive in the hope of children making the right decision in the years to come,just as the health care field does over diabetes,heart disease,lung disease,ectra with the foresight knowing that the dollars spent now in education will come back two fold with less money spent on the overall budget and the burden on the system.Superintendent McKinnon and all the other officers involved in this program deserve the biggest thanks possible for the wholehearted effort they put into this program.It’s unfortunate that such an important program of this magnitude is axed due too budget constraints.The rise in serious crimes and the goverments inability to fund major crimes units is criminal in itself.The economy hasn’t helped Superintendent McKinnons situation any,and probably wont for some time to come,but one has to wonder why the goverment of the day didn’t have some foresight in this scenario.Is this a sign of the times,we see all kinds of services being cut just to keep the bare sevices afloat,it really isnt a surprise right now.Again it’s the children whom suffer!
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