Released on March 16, 2015
The Government of Saskatchewan is providing $25,000 to fYrefly Saskatchewan to support gender and sexually diverse youth throughout the province. This funding will help the organization provide year-round gender and sexual diversity education and support for urban, rural and northern communities in Saskatchewan.
“Our goal is to ensure schools and communities are safe, welcoming and inclusive for our students,” Education Minister Don Morgan said. “This investment also supports our government’s commitment to working with community organizations to help respond to the recommendations in Saskatchewan’s Plan to Address Bullying and Cyberbullying.”
This partnership will allow fYrefly Saskatchewan to work with school divisions to support students who are gender and sexually diverse and to help all students understand how they can help create safe and inclusive environments, free of sexual discrimination.
“FYrefly in schools is a welcomed educational initiative in Saskatchewan,” Camp fYrefly Saskatchewan Co-Chair Reverend Carla Blakley said. “The Y in fYrefly is capitalized because youth are important. FYrefly in schools aims to reduce discrimination and bullying, especially against sexually and gender minority youth, so that a safe, caring school environment can be provided for all Saskatchewan youth."
Since 2009, fYrefly Saskatchewan has been offering a four-day summer camp for students who are gender and sexually diverse.
To find out more about fYrefly Saskatchewan or to apply to their summer camp, please visit www.usask.ca/education/fyrefly/index.htm. To find out more about Saskatchewan’s Plan to Address Bullying and Cyberbullying, visit www.education.gov.sk.ca//Anti-Bullying/campeau-report.pdf.
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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