Released on February 26, 2015
Today, Education Minister Don Morgan joined Saskatoon Crime Stoppers President Mark Dolan, as well as students and teachers at Brunskill Elementary School, to celebrate another community partnership in the government’s response to address bullying and cyberbullying. The Government of Saskatchewan is committing $107,500 over two years to Crimes Stoppers Saskatchewan to allow students to anonymously text or phone in reports of bullying behavior.“The government is committed to ensuring that students feel safe and welcome in their schools and communities, and this is another way we are continuing to address bullying and cyberbullying in our province,” Morgan said. “While we launched an online anonymous reporting tool last spring, this new service from Crime Stoppers will provide students with even more choice when reporting these instances safely and anonymously by phone or text.”
The Ministry of Education values the working relationship with a number of community partners and this additional partnership with Crime Stoppers demonstrates the ongoing commitment to address bullying and support the children and youth of Saskatchewan.
"Crime Stoppers is pleased to support students by providing a tool to safely and anonymously report bullying,” Dolan said. "The hallmark of Crime Stoppers is anonymity and students can feel confident in this as we have no method of tracking who provides information.”
“On behalf of Commissionaires North Saskatchewan Division and our 1,000 employees, we are pleased to be able to offer our sponsorship to such a meaningful initiative,” Commissionaires North Saskatchewan Division Chief Executive Officer Mike Cooper said. “This is our way of giving back to the community which we have been a part of for the past 67 years. We feel very strongly that with the government’s commitment, and using the Crime Stoppers Program as a tool, that we will be successful in curbing this serious problem of bullying and cyberbullying in our province.”
“Reports concerning bullying and cyberbullying are something our officers respond to on a regular basis,” Saskatoon Police Service Acting Chief Mark Chatterbok said. “The government’s commitment to youth safety, partnered with the effectiveness of the Crime Stoppers program, will benefit young people and the community as a whole.”
Reports made by students through text or by phone to Crime Stoppers will be redirected to the appropriate group, school division, ministry or law enforcement, based on the nature, severity and location of the incident, as well as the needs of the caller.
This effort is a result of the recommendations outlined in Saskatchewan’s Plan to Address Bullying and Cyberbullying. To find out more about the plan, visit www.education.gov.sk.ca//Anti-Bullying/campeau-report.pdf.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Kelly Johnston
Education
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1069
Email: kelly.johnston@gov.sk.ca