Report to NAAAW on Events held in Hay River, NWT

Monday, November 17th -
Sober Walk at Noon
Our event started at the Town Hall and made its visible walk through the downtown area at the busiest time of the day – 12 noon. We walked along the sidewalk carrying the NAAW banner, posters supporting a Drug Free Community and a SADD banner from the Diamond Jenness Secondary School Chapter.

The walk ended at Our Lady of Assumption Church where the Ladies of the Catholic Women’s League provided a lunch of soup, sandwiches and hot dogs.

Monday afternoon –

A presentation was made by the ODD SQUAD to the entire school population at DJSS and the junior high students from Ecole Boreale.
The presentation offered a message about choices and where your choice could lead you. The students were introduced to scenarios involving youth who live on the street in the downtown east side of Vancouver in a small area called Hastings Street.

Monday night
Videos produced by the National Film Board of Canada with the Participation of the Odd Squad Productions Society were made known to the group and the videos included: Flipping the World, Through a Blue Lens, and a new series production in the works.

Tuesday
Morning presentation made by the Odd Squad to Princess Alexandra Middle School, Hay River

Afternoon presentation made by the Odd Squad to Chief Sunrise Education Centre at Katlodeechee First Nations Reserve.

Tuesday Evening
Parent Information Session at Diamond Jenness Secondary School.
The Strategy is a Four Pillar Approach to reduction. The Pillars include Prevention, Treatment, Harm Reduction and Enforcement. All presenters provided information about activities of youth and what certain activities may point to.

Wednesday
Community Counseling Services meet with student council and go class to class promoting the Sober Youth Dance on 21st.
Protocol on Dance is worked up and promotion of healthy choices continues.

Friday
The Sober Community Teen Dance was at DJSS and open to all teens in Hay River and area. The event was sponsored by the NAAW Committee and the Theme was : The Evolution of Dance.
We had a full roster of volunteers to chaperone the dance to ensure the activities were truly sober. Various agencies supported the dance by their willingness to attend and chaperone. The DJ was a well respected graduate from DJSS and the music was chosen in conjunction with NAAW and Student Council.

Everything went very smoothly and at least 130 youth attended the dance. Prizes were
Sobriety was strictly enforced and all youth in attendance were sober. There were no incidences where youth smuggled alcohol or drugs to the dance. It likely helped that there was an RCMP officer assisting at the door from 8:30 – 9:30 pm. A few youth started to the door and then changed their mind.