Oil Barons DTES Orientation '06

The Fort McMurray Oil Barons have formed a partnership with the Fort McMurray RCMP Drug Unit to start a joint program called PROJECT KNOWLEDGE. The purpose of the partnership would be to form a working relationship between the Oil Barons organization and the youth of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

Oil Barons Derek Klassen, Brent Upshall, Tyler Helfrich, Brad Reaney, Brendan Roberts and Dakota Dubetz traveled to Vancouver Sept 11-12th to meet with the Vancouver Police Department and the ODD SQUAD. The ODD SQUAD is made up of several Vancouver Police Department members that were at one time stationed with the Vancouver Drug Unit. An “undercover” tour of duty in Downtown Eastside of Vancouver with members of the ODD SQUAD was undertaken amongst other activities. The ODD SQUAD has formed a partnership with 7 teams from the WHL in the past, but the Oil Barons are the first Junior A team in Canada to participate in this drug awareness program.

The players upon their return will commit to 20 school visits within the season, with their police mentors, to grade six students from within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. The players will have photographs and a video presentation to assist them with relating their “Vancouver Experience” to the students.

The Oil Barons organization would like to thank the Fort McMurray RCMP Drug Unit, the Vancouver Police Department and Chris Graham of the ODD SQUAD for allowing us to be involved in PROJECT KNOWLEDGE, we look forward to “making a difference” to our community.