La Verendrye School in Portage la Prairie held a set of RCMP Parent Awareness sessions last night dealing with topics of gangs, and drug and alcohol abuse. Principal Tracy Vanstone says several groups were involved.

Tracy Vanstone"The PCRC was here. We had different representatives from Family Resource Centre, so there were ways to engage them, ways to seek help. We had Child and Family Services here to help parents assist them. There were those opportunities for families, and then there were opportunities to sit in sessions on drug awareness."

Constables Paul Bedard & Amber Storey Constable Amber Storey is School Liaison Officer and explains, "We also had breakout sessions where Constable Bedard spoke on gang awareness, and I spoke on drug and alcohol substance abuse. And then we switched. So, if people were wanting to see both of them, then they got a chance to see both of them. It just gave parents a little more clarity on what to look for, how to keep their kids safe."

She says it was an impressive turnout.

"I don't know the number of people, but it was a very good turnout. We were very impressed. So, we're very happy that everybody has a want and need to keep their youth and their community safe."

It's the first of its kind in Portage after Constable Bedard spoke with educators in staff meetings to bring awareness about gangs. Vanstone says it went from there to thoughts of an evening with the community, and finally they partnered with the school to welcome parents in Portage to come and ask questions as well as be informed. She adds the more awareness they can give to the families the stronger they'll be. Vanstone says Bedard attended a similar event in Winnipeg that was well received. She adds Bedard wanted to see how the turnout fared and decided to either go to another school, and/or repeat it as LVS again.