NORTH BAY – Members from a number of school boards and community organizations had the tables turned on them last week when students from two North Bay high schools became the teachers on the subject of anti-bullying and self respect.
Student leaders from École publique Odyssée and Widdifield Secondary School outlined their anti-bullying initiatives to a boardroom filled with education, law enforcement and social services professionals on April 24. The anti-bullying summit, held at North Bay City Hall was the first of it’s kind in Ontario.
“This is not about the students and their efforts,” said summit co-chair Sylvie Vannier, “this summit is geared to community leaders and the need to address bullying in our community; like in the workplace or on the bus system.”
But while the adults spent the morning bringing their perspectives on bullying to the summit table, it was the teens who cut to the chase outlining programs they have already implemented in their schools bringing people together “to build stronger, open communities.”
The students spoke of self-esteem issues and the need for each person to realize what is causing them to be a bully.
Cassidy Villeneuve from Odyssée told the summit participants that “adults can help, but it’s really up to us to make the changes. We have to take the first steps against bullying.”
She said bullying is a learned behaviour. “Lots of these people have troubles at home, or are in unhealthy relationships,” she said.
In speaking of the student anti-bullying initiatives, the teens admitted that they had had to start the peer groups with no manual for success available to follow.
“It all starts with kids finding the courage to come forward and speak out,” Villeneuve said.
Shawne Chorney, vice president of Canadore College, credits the students for taking a proactive approach and said there are many lessons to be learned from their actions.
“We all need to be breaking down barriers and getting people talking,” he said. “Bullying doesn’t go away as people get older and bullies often can’t distinguish advocacy and bullying. We’re here to encourage effective change.”
Dan Joletter, general manager of Student Transportation Services says he feels “there needs to be a general awareness of bullying in our society if we are going to deal with it, and we can’t deal with it in isolation. That’s why bringing a group like this together is so important. Bullying can happen anywhere, in the workplace, or at home and we need to know how to address it.”
Led by facilitator Jack Jones, the summit participants planned to create a safer community using the students’ presentations for the basis of much of their discussion.
“The importance of this summit and the timeliness cannot be understated,” said Mayor Al McDonald. “I am very conscious of the grave impact bullying has had on our families, schools and communities. We need to sustain this opportunity and challenge this disturbing phenomenon head-on.”
“Bringing people together to discuss this is so important. We need to work together instead of having different sectors of the community come up with a multitude of separate initiatives,” said Chantal Larocque of the Anishinabek Police Service.
Larocque said she had been a victim of bullying. “I think we need to address self confidence as a key component for both the bully and the victim and talk about self respect and respect for others. That’s something that seems to be missing today. Making partnerships and connecting with other groups is a great first step.”
Regardless of how old you are, “bullying hurts when it’s happening, but it’s how we deal with it out of that moment that we need to be talking about. That’s key,” she said.
“Bullying is more than the latest buzz word,” said Vanier. “It is a deliberate and repeated behaviour, which is intended to harm others. It is important to have the conversation and not shy away from the reality.
“I’m proud to see that North Bay is leading the way in the province in hosting this anti-bullying summit and appreciative that many of our city leaders are participating in the discussion.”
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