Alexya Racicot may seem like your average 16-year old teenager.

But look deeper, and you’ll notice the Timmins native is quickly making waves on a global stage as an ambassador for the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Program.

The world is sure taking notice.

Racicot has been chosen to represent Canada at the 2018 World Federation Against Drugs event in Stockholm, Sweden in the spring. She is the first Canadian ever to be invited and will be among seven others from DARE America.

“It’s going to open many doors cause I also want to be a police officer when I grow up,” she said, “I want to teach DARE also, so it opens a lot of doors for me and I’m really excited to share my passion for the DARE Program too.”

She also serves as an International DARE Youth Advisory Board (YAB) member after being nominated by DARE Officer Rick Lemieux. Racicot says in Sweden, she will attend conferences and make presentations to DARE officers.

That’s a critical component to the board’s role. Racicot says they help officers understand things from a student’s perspective so they can find ways to improve the program.

Racicot has seen quite a few places since being chosen to be a YAB member. She has already made trips to Texas and Hawaii.

Currently, Racicot is in Grade 12 studying at École publique l’Odyssée in North Bay and plays for the North Bay “Midget AA” Ice Boltz. She plans on returning to Timmins and graduate from Ecole Secondaire Catholique Theriault.

Afterwards? Constable Rick Lemieux will be keeping an eye over his shoulder for the next DARE Officer in Timmins.

Filed under: Local News