CANADA SAFETY COUNCIL LAUNCHES ANTI-BULLYING AWARENESS CAMPAIGN WITH SUPPORT FROM THE NATIONAL STRATEGY ON COMMUNITY SAFETY AND CRIME PREVENTION

OTTAWA, October 18, 2001 - The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, was on hand today as the Canada Safety Council launched its national anti-bullying campaign during National School Safety Week. The public awareness campaign to reduce bullying, a joint effort of the Canada Safety Council and the National Film Board of Canada, was supported by the National Strategy on Community Safety and Crime Prevention.

Minister McLellan was at the event, hosted by the Regina Street Public School, to read a story to children about the problem of bullying, and its effects on crime and victimization.

"This public education campaign recognizes the fundamental importance that early intervention plays in addressing the problems of victimization and crime," said Minister McLellan. "The Government of Canada is pleased to support the Canada Safety Council in its efforts to address the serious social issue of bullying by reaching out to young children directly and providing them with resources and helpful information so that we can reduce the incidence of bullying in our schools."

"If there are bullies in a school, then it doesn't feel safe," said Canada Safety Council president Emile Therien. "Bullying poisons the social environment for everyone, has long-term consequences for the bully and the victim, and is a factor in suicides and violent incidents."

Bullying is a serious personal safety concern in many Canadian schools. Victims of bullying can experience withdrawal, anxiety and diminished classroom performance. There are also long-term costs to society from bullying behaviour; as they grow up, bullies may transfer their abuse of power on the playground to other forms of harassment, violence or abuse.

The National Strategy takes an early intervention approach to crime prevention and community safety, and supports innovative, grass-roots responses to the factors that contribute to the problems of crime and victimization; factors that include violence, school problems and abuse.

The Canada Safety Council campaign includes national school distribution of a combination pamphlet and poster on bullying, an anti-bullying website, phone access to Kids Help counsellors, and the promotion of the National Film Board's film Bully Dance, which tells the story of a school bully and victim through animation.

The campaign received $53,000 under the National Strategy's Crime Prevention Partnership program. The program supports the involvement of organizations that can contribute to community crime prevention activities through the development of information, tools and resources that facilitate community participation in all phases of crime prevention.

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Ref.:

Farah Mohamed
Minister McLellan's Office
(613) 992-4621

Mark Stokes
National Strategy on Community
Safety and Crime Prevention
(613) 954-1721

Ethel Archard
Manager, Marketing and Communications
Canada Safety Council
(613) 739-1535 ext. 228