Students ‘dare’ to just say no

Last week was graduation day for students at Sturgeon Creek and Donald Young School who participated in the Drug Awareness Resistance Education (DARE) program taught by Fort Frances OPP Cst. Mark Boileau.
Students had to write an essay on “Ways to Say No” after viewing skits on the subject.
Sturgeon Creek winners of the Personal Commitments Essay Award were Daniel Caul (first), Mylo Smith, and Jodi Caul.
Grade five students who earned certificates included Giselle Bonot, Lauralee Both, Jennifer Brusven, Samantha Conway, Jerry Forbes, Eldon Gibson, Jodie Hoskins, Julie McQuaker, Ashley Nordin, Jonathan Sheppard, Emily Taylor, Tiffany Whitefish, Emmanuel Whiting, Trisha Wilson, and Sierra Woolsey.
Grade six students who took home certificates included Andrew Advent, Lisa Barron, Randy Costik, Mason Gallinger, Mark Heyens, George Morken, Matt Neilson, Jennifer Shrumm, and Malarie Woolsey.
At DYS, Allison Williams and Jocelyn Matheson each won “Darren,” a stuffed lion mascot of the DARE program, and a medallion as the fist-place essay winners.
Other top essay winners, also receiving medallions, were Eric Daw, Theo Degroot, Joel Baker, and Jennifer Carmody.
Earning certificates were Vlair Allan, Jamie Baker, Candice Bombay, Kevin Callaghan, Melanie Carruthers, Amber Daw, Ryan Daw, Sara Edwards, Robert Galloway, Greg Hartlin, Danah Horton, Doug Judson, Tanner Kaemingh, Justin Lalonde, and Mac Lougheed.
Dylan McGinnis, Ashley McQuaker, Johanna Meyers, Leah Mose, Michael Niskala, Chelsey Ogden, David Pollard, Ashley Shaw, Stephanie Strachan, Travis Strachan, Steven Van Smeerdyk, Alana Wieringa, Brian Vargas, and Ashley Woolsey also were awarded certificates.
Everyone also received DARE T-shirts and pins.
Lucinda Meyers thanked Cst. Boileau for his dedication to the DARE program, and Mel Carruthers presented him with a book the students had designed with their notes of appreciation.
Cst. Boileau acknowledged the program sponsors, and also commented on how co-operative and well-behaved the students had been through the 17 one-hour sessions.