D.A.R.E. BC Society has the honour of working alongside amazing members of the RCMP, who continuously support the implementation of the D.A.R.E. program. The D.A.R.E. program helps forge strong bonds between students and the Police Officers teaching the program. In turn, the experiences shared by the students with their friends and families has resulted in a better relationship and a greater understanding for both D.A.R.E. Officers and community members.
D.A.R.E. Officers are not only given the chance to teach to children in the community but have the opportunity to enrol their own family members into the program. One of our amazing D.A.R.E. Officers Sergeant (Sgt.) Chris Swain of the North Cowichan/Duncan Detachment is the proud father of two young girls in the Cowichan Valley School District on Vancouver Island. In respect of his younger daughter Emily’s unique needs, Sgt. Swain and his wife withdrew their daughter from her school and undertook the significant responsibility of home schooling her. Sgt. Swain, who is a former active D.A.R.E. Officer, recognized that there were important skills that she could benefit from being in the D.A.R.E. program, however, was not being offered at her school and was not currently available to those who were schooled at home. Sgt. Swain recognized from his time as a classroom D.A.R.E. instructor that he had the skillset to remedy this. To provide this experience for Emily, Sgt. Swain secured the D.A.R.E. instructor’s manual and supplies for a classroom of 1 and set about the delivery of the curriculum, for the most attentive and loving class a D.A.R.E. Officer ever taught. Emily successfully completed the program, embraced the teachings of her D.A.R.E. Officer/father, and graduated with honours.
Sgt. Swain and his efforts is a primary example of RCMP Officers going above and beyond in providing support to our children and the community.
Sgt. Swain presenting his daughter Emily with the D.A.R.E. graduation certificate