Drug Strategy Action Committee hands out annual awards
An inspiring group of individuals and organizations were saluted on May 23 for the work they do in making a difference in the fight against drug use and drug accession.
The Drug Strategy Action Committee hosted their seventh annual awards luncheon to recognize four individuals, and three agencies or businesses for the impact they are having in Swift Current. Winners for 2018 were: Community Programming Award - Bridgeway Community Church.
Youth Leadership Award Jenna Sloman.
Youth Advocate Award Nathan Wiebe. Community Dedication Award
- Southwest Saskatchewan SWIS (Settlement Worker In Schools) Program (Lisa Byers and Deanna Baje).
Youth Activism Award - Aisha Silzer (SCCHS SADD member).
Community Assistant Award - Canadian Tire Jumpstart Program.
Just Say No To Drugs Award - Patrick Thiessen.
Patti Dekowny, Chair of the Drug Strategy Action Committee noted there is a continued importance for recognizing people and organizations in the community for their leadership and partnerships.
“It’s very important because often times with the issue of drugs and alcohol we only really hear the negative of what’s going on, and we associate a lot of negative things with it. But we do know there are success stories in our community, and there are people who are trying to make a difference, organizations that are helping in any kind of preventative way to make a difference to have a positive impact on our community.”
The awards made their debut back in 2012, and right from year one there has been an important youth focus to the recognition program. Four of the awards are directly presented to youth and tough advocates.
“We always want to highlight any youth that we see that is showing a leadership roll or has made a positive change in their life,” Dekowny said. “We really like to recognize them because we want to take note of what they’re doing, but also encourage them to keep going.”
She added that teens do not often get recognized for the courage it takes to do the right thing.
“It’s hard when you’re a teen or a young adult when your friends or peers are maybe doing something else, just to be different or to take a leadership role or to make a positive change.”