Emo on board with substance abuse prevention

By Heather Ogilvie

Emo council expressed encouragement of local substance abuse prevention initiatives during its regular meeting last week after having attended a talk on the issue back on May 31.
“I was telling people how good it was . . . the boys did a heck of a job,” Coun. Ken Fisher said about the presentation, which was made by three young men from Winnipeg who were recovering from drug addictions.
Sponsored by the Rainy River District Substance Abuse Prevention Team, the trio spent two days in the district speaking to teens, parents, and community members about their path to sobriety.
One of their stops was at the Emo-La Vallee Community Centre, where about 60 people, including several members of Emo council, had gathered.
“I’m glad to hear you thought it was good because this is what we are trying to do,” noted SAPT co-ordinator Hugh Dennis, who attended a portion of last Tuesday’s council meeting.
But Coun. Fisher also noted he would have liked to see more people out at the presentation.
“Sixty people is not enough—we should have had 1,000 people there,” he remarked. “I know you worked hard on it, but maybe the advertising could have been better.”
He felt the posters put up around town didn’t entice people the way they should have.
“But even if we touched just one out of 60, it was worth it,” Coun. Harri Sheloff pointed out.
“Yes, but it’s too bad more kids couldn’t have heard it,” replied Coun. Fisher.
Dennis noted that “it was an ice-breaker” and that the next time there is a similar event, people will be looking for it.
“It was kind of last-minute, so I was happy with the amount of people there. But I could do a better job with the advertising,” he conceded.
Dennis explained the May 31 presentation was the second “wave” of substance abuse talks this year, noting two men—one a former drug user and the other a former drug dealer—spoke in Mine Centre, Atikokan, and at J. W. Walker School in Fort Frances back in April.
“We’re planning to have another presentation in the fall—we’d like to ask a few ladies to speak to relate their experiences from a female perspective,” Dennis added.
Emo council agreed that was a good direction to take for the next speakers.
Dennis also stressed the SAPT—an initiative by the Northwestern Health Unit—serves the entire district and is made up of many community partners and volunteers.
Some of the programs it is involved with include the Fort Frances High School “chem-free” grad, D.A.R.E., Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving (OSAID), and the annual “Medicine Cabinet Clean-out.”
“We want to encourage you [council] to promote healthy living,” Dennis stressed. “Any activities you have to keep kids busy, we want to help out with that.”
For example, the SAPT would be willing to offer assistance to a soccer program—not for snacks or pizza, but for balls and trophies that help sustain the program and keep youth out of trouble.
Dennis encouraged Emo council to pass this information along to community groups.