Released on November 14, 2016
The Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed November 13–19, 2016, as Bullying Awareness Week in Saskatchewan. Since 2003, Bullying Awareness Week has been held annually across Canada as a way to encourage youth to speak out against bullying in their schools and communities. This year’s theme is “Stand Up! (to bullying).”“There is simply no place for bullying in our schools or our communities,” Deputy Premier and Education Minister Don Morgan said. “I encourage all young people who experience or witness bullying to talk to a trusted adult, report it anonymously through the province’s student online bullying reporting tool or call Kids Help Phone or Saskatchewan Health Line 811. It’s up to each of us to do our part to prevent bullying, so please speak up.”
The Ministry of Education and SaskTel work together through I Am Stronger to stop bullying and cyberbullying. On http://iamstronger.ca/, students will find information on how they can get help, report bullying online from a smartphone, tablet or computer and promote positive change in their schools and communities.
The website also offers resources about bullying for youth, families and educators.
“Since launching the I Am Stronger program in 2014, 30 grants totalling more than $28,000 have been awarded,” SaskTel Vice President of Human Resources and Corporate Services Doug Burnett said. “It is very important to us as an organization that we assist in building awareness of the negative effects of bullying in our communities, provide resources to educate our youth, and empower them to turn their ideas into actions that positively influence social change in our schools, communities and online.”
In 2013, the Government of Saskatchewan released Saskatchewan's Action Plan to Address Bullying and Cyberbullying based on thoughts about the effects of bullying shared by more than 1,000 students, teachers, parents and community members.
Since its release, the Ministry of Education has responded to the recommendations in the Action Plan in a number of ways, including:
- an anonymous smartphone-friendly online reporting tool;
- Digital Citizenship Education in Saskatchewan Schools – a resource to help teachers and administrators educate students on safe and appropriate online practices as well as how to deal with cyberbullying;
- Deepening the Discussion: Gender and Sexual Diversity - a professional resource to help educators develop a better understanding of gender and sexual diversity; and
- partnering with SaskTel’s I Am Stronger campaign to provide grants of up to $1,000 for youth-led initiatives to address bullying or cyberbullying.
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For more information, contact:
Jill Clark
Education
Regina
Phone: 306-787-3955
Email: jill.clark2@gov.sk.ca