Released on November 19, 2014
Government representatives and approximately 150 students from across the province are in Saskatoon today to take part in the second annual Student First Anti-Bullying forum.
The forum is an opportunity for high school students to share their experiences, work together to find possible solutions to address bullying and to encourage student responsibility in schools, communities and online.
“A number of schools in our province have made great efforts to address the issue of bullying and students themselves have played an important role in this progress,” Saskatoon Greystone MLA Rob Norris said on behalf of Education Minister Don Morgan. “We want to ensure that students remain engaged and continue to have a strong voice against bullying. Today’s forum will help students develop leadership skills and encourage discussion so that they can continue making their schools a safe and accepting environment for everyone.”
The forum is one of the recommendations outlined in Saskatchewan’s Action Plan to Address Bullying and Cyberbullying.
Dr. Alec Couros, from the University of Regina, is facilitating the day and speaking to the role of technology and the importance of appropriate and responsible behaviour, both online and in social settings. Community partners in attendance include representatives from SaskTel’s “I Am Stronger” campaign, Canadian Red Cross, Kids Help Phone, Multi-Cultural Council of Saskatchewan and Settlement Support Workers in Schools.
“The Student First Anti-Bullying forum will be an incredible opportunity for youth leaders from all over Saskatchewan to collaborate on ideas that will define their generation,” Couros said. “This is a unique opportunity for our 'Generation Z' youth to develop codes of conduct that will help guide our youth through the challenges and opportunities of our emerging, digital world.”
Students participating in the forum were nominated by school divisions. First Nations and Métis students were nominated by Education Directors that work with First Nations Schools and by the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan.
For more information on anti-bullying and to view Saskatchewan’s Action Plan to Address Bullying and Cyberbullying visit www.education.gov.sk.ca/Anti-Bullying.
For more information on the “I Am Stronger Campaign” visit http://iamstronger.ca/.
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For more information, contact:
Kelly Johnston
Education
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1069
Email: kelly.johnston@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-533-7506