North Vancouver Students Take A Walk on the Wild Side

VANCOUVER – Police officers from the Odd Squad have given 10 North Shore high school students a firsthand look at the harsh reality of drug and alcohol addiction.

 

David Steverding, a Vancouver police officer and North Vancouver resident, was one of several Odd Squad members who took students from Sutherland secondary on an interactive tour of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside on Feb. 18. According to Steverding, it’s a privilege to live on the North Shore but drug abuse has no boundaries.

 

“The fact remains there are still addiction issues no matter where you go, whether its the Downtown Eastside or the North Shore,” he said. “I don’t think there is enough educational influence . . . this is just an opportunity to provide one side of the addiction issue to students.”

The Odd Squad was created in 1997 and was made up of seven officers from the Vancouver Police Department. Today the squad consists of 22 active and retired police officers from various fields within law enforcement.

 

Joe Calendino, program director for Yo Bro Youth Initiative was also on hand and spoke to the students about his time as a member of the Hell’s Angels.