Pubdate: Fri, 09 Oct 2009 Source: Caledon Enterprise, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2009 The Caledon Enterprise Contact: http://www.northpeel.com/br/caledon/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4318 Author: Heather Abrey Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) RETRO BILL MAKES CANADIAN DEBUT IN CALEDON Some Caledon students were left uncharacteristically quiet during Retro Bill's debut Canadian tour, but only between the fits of laughter. Retro Bill, cited as the most sought after motivational speaker for students from Kindergarten to Grade 12, is the official D.A.R.E (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) "Safety Buddy", among many other things. During his career, he has been a writer, director, producer, actor and artist. He currently performs more than 300 shows a year, but until now has never brought his lessons to Canada. "Very inspiring," said one Humberview Secondary student as others gathered around to get autographs and photos after the presentation. In his fourth Caledon show, Retro Bill seemed to have the full attention of Humberview's Grade 9 and 10s. "You heard the uncomfortable giggles at the beginning," said Retro Bill. But he promptly took control and told students they were not living up to their full potential, as was evident by the garbage issue in the school. The motivational speaker arrived to find the school "looking like a zoo" and a custodian named Anna hard at work. He immediately addressed the issue at the beginning of the presentation, saying, "I thought, these students are better than that. And you are." The custodian was invited in front of the crowd for a standing ovation as Retro Bill spoke to students about respect, not just for their custodians, their school and themselves, but everyone around them. During the assembly a wide range of issues were covered, from respect, education and bullying to how to say no to drugs using some "weird" diversionary tactics. "It's nothing they haven't heard before," said Retro Bill, "but I package it differently. Maybe I'm the first time they've really listened and utilized what they've learned." The frank but funny discussion did seem to have an effect, as a student later approached the speaker to tell him that she had received two apologies before even leaving the gym. Retro Bill himself received an apology - in front of all the gathered students - from a boy who was less than attentive during the presentation. "If you get one chuckler in the crowd out of 3,000, that's extraordinary," he said after speaking with students at several Caledon schools. Retro Bill has been educating students across the United States for 10 years, a passion that arose from his own struggles as a youth. He spoke about being bullied for his own differences, and afterwards went into more depth about some of the experiences that led him to this life. Growing up in Illinois, Retro Bill was a Boy Scout and desperately wanted to reach the top rank of Eagle Scout. In Grade 8 another Boy Scout tried to drown him. "He told me if I told anyone he would murder me," the speaker explained. Out of fear, he never did have the chance to reach the level of Eagle Scout, and the boy who threatened him is now serving 20 years in jail for another offence. "So I was afraid of the right person, but I did not do what I instruct the students to do. which is tell the adults. And for the rest of my life I have to live with the fact that a bully kept me from my true dreams." Later, during his senior year of high school, a motivational speaker came to speak to his graduating class about not drinking and driving during the upcoming prom night. It was a "druggie" who thought the presentation was very funny who later went on to kill Retro Bill's two close friends in a head-on collision. "It just devastated all of us," he said. While these details didn't feature in the presentations, Retro Bill did tell students about the teasing and bullying he suffered, and some of his own strategies for dealing with the problems, such as staying positive when others are negative. "I had boys bully me and push me in the hallways and I didn't even know their name," Retro Bill told the crowd at Allan Drive Middle School, which included students from Macville, Caledon East, Palgrave and St. Nicholas Schools. "They want you to hurt; they want to bring you down. Please do not take the bait. Two wrongs don't make a right. they want you to do the same in kind. You don't win when you hurt somebody, you bring yourself down." Most of the kids in the crowds at both Humberview and Allan Drive have participated in the D.A.R.E. program, which is a partnership between police and educators to teach children about drugs and how to avoid them when facing peer pressure. Constable Gord Van der Grinten has been involved with the program for six years and received a fairly enthusiastic welcome of his own. "It's a win-win for the students, but when you talk to the parents it's one of the best programs for starting conversation at home," said Van der Grinten of D.A.R.E. "There's always going to be critics that say it doesn't work. some people make bad choices. There are seat belts in cars, but people still die in auto accidents." One of the great benefits of the program, explained the Constable, is the connection that students make with police. He spoke of going to schools and getting applause, or going to the fall fair and having students approach him to say hello after four or five years. "It's incredible. It opens up barriers." The Peel District School Board was not aware of any statistics on how many children go on to use or avoid drugs later in life after completing the D.A.R.E. program, but a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) survey done in 2007 found that 95 per cent of students "felt attending the D.A.R.E. program helped them decide against using drugs in future." During his visit to Canada Retro Bill visited Mayfield Secondary School, Herb Campbell Public School, Robert F. Hall Catholic School, Humberview Secondary School, Allan Drive Middle School and St. John the Baptist Catholic School. He presented his information in a manner that kept the students quiet and attentive during serious moments, and smiling and giggling during the more light hearted content. "They took a pretty good dressing down from me at the beginning," said Retro Bill of his visit to Humberview. He believes that he can take that hard stance at times because he connects with students, is honest with them and doesn't disrespect them, not to mention getting quickly back to the lighter side of things. "I don't do it for yuks. I want them to laugh because it disarms them." But most importantly he wants all students to "Stay drug free, believe in your dreams and treat each other with kindness." - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D