BARRHEAD – Pembina Hills School Division is taking a stand against bullying for Bullying Awareness Week, which takes place this week (Nov. 11-15).
“Bullying has no place here. It undermines our core principles of equality and respect, creating barriers to the sense of belonging we strive to nurture,” said Brett Cooper, Pembina Hills superintendent.
“We stand together against any form of bullying, and we will continue to uphold practices that prevent and address it, fostering a culture where empathy, kindness, and understanding flourish.”
Bullying happens with everyone from all walks of life from elementary students to seniors to adults in workplaces.
The statistics data highlights the heightened number of cases among youth.
“Two in five (42%) reported experiencing it monthly or more frequently, while 58% reported experiencing bullying a few times a year,” stated Statistics Canada in a February 2023 article.
“Bullying takes many forms, including physical, verbal, social or relational, and cyberbullying.
“The most common form of bullying was being made fun of, called names or insulted (59%), followed by rumours being spread by others (34%), and being excluded from activities (32%).”
Whether you are the bully or the victim there are things to know about your situation.
Bullies may not even know what they are doing to others and that they are in fact a bully.
“Bullies are often motivated to act in harmful ways due to their own feelings of insecurity and powerlessness or their need for control,” according to betterhelp.com.
Statistics Canada also released in February 2023 data from 2019 that identified 1 in 4 youths 12 to 17 years old had been cyber-bullied in the last year - the risks being higher for marginalized groups.
The Alberta government describes bullying as” a relationship problem that involves a power imbalance, making it so challenging to overcome,” remarks on the alberta.ca website.
There are resources available to help people being bullied.
School-aged students and parents should speak to their principal.
The Pembina Hills School Division has policies in place to keep students safe, most recently Policy 30 on Safety for All.
The Alberta government offers a 24-hour helpline 310-1818 to contact by calling or texting for support. https://www.alberta.ca/bullying-get-help
Learning to recognize warning signs and take preventative measures can help.
Telling someone you trust when you feel you are being bullied, sooner than later, can be the answer.
In a workplace environment or seniors’ home, it is best to talk to leadership people.
Staying safe is the top priority no matter how old a person is or where the bullying is happening.
Telling the bully to stop, saying STOP out loud, can be assertive and may stop the actions.
Staying calm and not fighting back are actions to keep you safe according to Alberta.ca.
There is another organization BullyingCanada.ca that was started in 2006 by 2 people being bullied, Rob Benn-Frennette and Katie Thompson (Neu).
“After years of enduring relentless torment, Rob (age 17) and Katie (14) had enough. The teenagers had searched tirelessly for help, but to no avail,” states the Bullyingcanada.ca website about their history.
“Determined to make a difference, they decided to take matters into their own hands. They wanted to make sure kids like them had somewhere to turn when their own schools or communities were unable or unwilling to help.”
Bullying Canada has a 7/24/365 support system that can be accessed by anyone needing support.
You can contact them at [email protected] or call them at 877-352-4497.
Getting support is the best way to help in being able to put bullying in the past and not part of anyone’s present.
“Together, let’s ensure that every person in Pembina Hills feels valued and respected,” commented Cooper.
“Let’s set the standard for a community where everyone can be their true selves without fear, and where bullying is replaced by connection, compassion, and mutual respect."
