The Williams Lake RCMP teamed up with Three Corners Health Society, Punky Lake Wilderness Society and the Williams Lake Boys and Girls Club to offer a ball hockey tournament for Youth Week Friday at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex between 4 and 7 p.m.
RCMP Staff Sgt. Del Byron said the event attracted 50 kids making up eight teams.
“We’ve been serving hot dogs, we have prizes, it’s been very successful,” Byron said as another game got underway with Alexis Creek RCMP Sgt. Don Racette leading the yellow team and First Nations policing Const. Colby Hendrickson captaining the pink team.
In addition to RCMP officers who participated, Canoe Creek/Dog Creek Chief Patrick Harry played goal for one of the teams as did Mike Archie, an Aboriginal youth support worker from Changing Directions.
Williams Lake Boys and Girls Club harm reduction co-ordinator Jordan Davis said a consent and sexual assault presentation for 220 students at Lake City Secondary School held Thursday was also very successful.
“I talked about the root cause of sexual assault being a gender issue,” Davis said. “What women and men are taught about gender really contributes to the behaviours that go along with sexual assault.”
Byron and Hendrickson talked about the legalities of sexual assault, the ramifications, and how seriously it’s taken, Davis said. As the students came through the line to grab a taco wrap after the presentation, many of them asked questions and talked one on one.
“That’s a big part of the work — the relationship building,” Davis added.