A North Vancouver resident has been awarded one of Canada’s highest honours for his efforts in helping keep kids off drugs.
Dale Weidman, a longtime Lynn Valley resident and staff sergeant with the Vancouver Police Department’s Major Crime Section, was among 45 Canadians presented with a Meritorious Service Medal by Gov. Gen. David Johnston in a special ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa Nov. 25.
The award recognizes “extraordinary” people who “make Canada proud” through acts that are often innovative, set an example or model for others to follow, or respond to a particular challenge faced by a community.
In 1997 Weidman and six fellow VPD officers developed a program that exposes teens to the raw side of drug addiction. The officers began filming drug education videos in the Downtown Eastside – their walking beat. They called themselves the Odd Squad Productions Society. This was before reality TV. Even before digital cameras.
“And we thought: ‘Wow, that’s impactful,’” said Weidman, of the gritty footage.
On their own time, the officers followed around a core group of addicts, chronicling their trials and tribulations.
“One lady grew up on the North Shore and she had a normal upbringing,” recalled Weidman.
Twenty years later, the Odd Squad continues to teach teens about the perils of drug use through presentations in the classroom or by immersing them directly in the hardscrabble neighbourhood.
Weidman said the Odd Squad assumed they would just talk to students in Grades 10, 11 or 12, but the teachers encouraged them to start younger.
And the teens responded positively.
The Odd Squad has received a lot of letters from students saying “you have really made a difference,” adds Weidman.
And now with the fentanyl crisis at the forefront of people’s minds, the Odd Squad is on the case again and in the midst of planning a new documentary. Working in the Major Crimes section, Weidman said he is well aware of the fentanyl stats.
“And it’s not good,” said the 24-year VPD veteran.
Weidman is also a member of North Shore Rescue, explaining how there are parallels between that volunteer role and his policing job that propel him forward in the line of duty.
“I like being a part of a team and I like helping people and I like being around people who are like-minded that want to help people,” said Weidman. “You can do all that (helping people) and have fun doing it and have a little bit of excitement doing it. To me, it’s just like a win, win, win all around.”
As for why Weidman donned the uniform in the first place?
“Well, let’s be honest, it’s a cool job,” he said, adding his father was a police officer.
Weidman attended the Ottawa ceremony with his wife and two kids and said receiving the meritorious medal has been “super humbling” and “a huge honour.”
Through the Odd Squad, Weidman said the mantra he imparts on youth is: “Just be nice. If you are nice, good things will happen to you.”
