A popular Canadian icon and Juno-award winning drummer was in town last week inspiring local youth to follow their dreams and make positive life choices.
The drummer for the Crash Test Dummies, Mitch Dorge also serves as a spokesperson for Teens Against Drinking and Driving (TADD) and Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.). Hundreds of students in the area from Grades 7 to 12 heard Dorge's message as he stopped at six local schools to talk about drugs, alcohol and the broader effects people's decisions have, not just on themselves but everyone around them.
“Mitch's presentation was very positive, very uplifting. I think he has a positive message to share and he comes across as someone who generally cares and wants to make a difference,” said Lise Gratton, a teacher at École des Beaux-Lacs. “At this age group, Grade 7 to 12, they're at a very critical age. It's important to make sure they're surrounded by positive reinforcement and just to make sure they always know they have to live with the consequences of their decision.”
Staying away from the traditional format of drug and alcohol presentations, Dorge injected humour into his time with the students. Through various games and activities, Dorge explained to students the effects drugs have on the brain.
“I believe that you are smart people but I'm going to do whatever I can to offer a perspective you're not familiar with,” Dorge told students. “If you type a drug name into google, any drug of choice, you'll get pictures, an explanation of what it is, some news stories. By the third or fourth search page, you'll get personal stories. Ninety per cent of those stories are not happy. Read 10 or 12 of them.”
To give students an example of the stories they'll find, Dorge relayed that of a young girl whose life was turned upside down. At just 19-years-old, Jacqueline Saburido went from being a student who travelled from South America to the United States to study, to a burn ward victim at the hands of a drunk driver.
“She did all the right things. She went to a birthday party one night and she wasn't drunk, but she just thought she had one too many. So Jacki found a designated driver,” Dorge explained.
While on their way, the car Saburido was travelling in was hit by an impaired driver. Of the five people in the vehicle, two were dead at the scene, two were taken to hospital and Saburido was trapped inside the vehicle as it went up in flames.
“She burned for 45 seconds. The paramedic at the scene admitted that he just wanted her to die because he couldn't take the screams.”
After they cut Saburido out of the vehicle she was rushed to hospital, where she stayed for months in recovery, losing her ears, nose, hair and hands.
The impaired driver left the scene of the crash not even realizing what he had done. Police eventually caught up with him and he was sentenced to five years in jail.
“I don't think you guys are the problem, but someone might take you out of the picture, might change your life,” Dorge told students, adding that he wants them to help be apart of the solution.
Before leaving, Dorge gave the students some homework. To help spread the message about the impact bad decisions can have on innocent lives, he asked students to share Saburido's story. The youth were also encouraged to share their thoughts and solutions with Dorge himself.
“You don't always have to go to the experts. People that know nothing about what you're trying to do are sometimes the ones that have the answers.”
“It was very interesting, it got the kids' attention and made them think a lot about the consequences of drugs and alcohol,” said Danielle Lavoie, a substitute teacher at École des Beaux-Lacs. “They're at an age where they'll probably be in a context where they'll have to make choices and decisions regarding drugs and alcohol. They have to be informed about it.”
On a lighter note, Dorge also intertwined messages of setting goals and following your dreams into his presentation. Reflecting on his own life story, the Canadian alternative rock star encouraged students to do what they love.
“If you know what you want in life, go after it with everything you have. That way 25 to 30 years from now you'll be happy everyday of your life. Nothing feels better than when you do what you love everyday.”
