STUDENTS WANT 'SAFE ZONES'

Drug and alcohol use, drug trafficking, violence and bullying will not be tolerated around Nanaimo schools.

That's a goal the Nanaimo Youth Council wants the community involved in and believe it's come up with a way to accomplish that.  The youth council wants to create safe zones around Nanaimo schools.

Signs would alert people that they are within 500 metres of a school.  Within that zone will be a zero tolerance level for vandalism, drugs and bullying.

Youth council mentor Annie Thuveson equates the safe zones to speed zones.  When driving through a school zone, drivers think about their speed but also the children in the area, she said.

"If a bully walks into a safe zone, we want them to think about being nicer," Thuveson said.

"If a drug dealer is thinking about selling drugs to kids, Nanaimo is saying that's not tolerated."

The safe zones are related to legislation that makes drug traffickers liable to a greater punishment if they are caught dealing within 500 metres of a school, said Thuveson.

She said the schools are on board with the project, as many of the student councils have written letters of support.

The youth council has been granted permission from the school board to put up safe zone signs near schools in Nanaimo.

The students must fundraise enough money to cover the cost of the signs.