The Prince George Civic Centre is buzzing today with more than 300 grades 8-12 students celebrating what’s been done to prevent bullying and other harmful behaviours in the north.

Students will spend the day learning what actions schools are taking to create positive and accepting schools. They will attend leadership building workshops and participate in a bullying-prevention panel discussion with Parliamentary Secretary for Child Mental Health and Anti-Bullying Jane Thornthwaite and representatives from both the RCMP and Me to We’s Stand Up! program.

The Stand Up! program helps student leaders develop action plans to foster positive and inclusive schools. Though the Ministry of Education’s ERASE Bullying strategy, Stand Up! was recently delivered in seven school districts across northern B.C. reaching 5,500 elementary and secondary school students and mentoring 240 safe school ambassadors.

In March 2014, the Ministry of Justice provided a $100,000 civil forfeiture grant to Me to We to continue their Stand Up! program. Schools in rural B.C. are currently being selected to receive the program, which will continue to empower students with the leadership skills required to build positive school climates through workshops and the development of safe school action plans.

To recognize the hard work of the northern B.C. Stand Up! students and to further empower the region, the Prince George symposium is a by youth, for youth event including many of the students who completed the Stand Up! program and members of the ERASE Student Advisory.

In June, 2012, Premier Christy Clark launched the 10-point ERASE Bullying strategy to address bullying and harmful behaviour in schools. It is a comprehensive prevention and intervention strategy linked with the BC Education Plan, focused on personalized supports and interventions for students.

(flickr.com)

Quotes:

Peter Fassbender, Minister of Education -

“ERASE Bullying continues to be a nation-leading strategy to ensure children in our province feel safe, respected and accepted. Substantial progress has been made on each of the 10 points and the strategy continues to expand to include elements like the fantastic Stand Up! program.”

Jane Thornthwaite, Parliamentary Secretary for Child Mental Health and Anti-Bullying for the Minister of Children and Family Development -

“The kids in northern B.C. are great and have done a phenomenal amount of work to create safe and respectful schools. They’ve taken the actions they’ve learned in ERASE bullying and Stand Up! and applied those strategies in their schools. I’m thrilled to be here with them today and celebrate their achievements.”

Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour and Prince George-Valemount MLA -

“Today’s symposium celebrates what action has been taken to prevent bullying and other harmful behaviours in the north. It’s inspiring to see students take a leadership role in their schools and communities. I look forward to seeing the ERASE bullying strategy continue to flourish in the north.”

Suzanne Anton, Attorney General and Minister of Justice -

“Civil forfeiture grants provide funding to a variety of programs and initiatives throughout B.C. that are aimed at youth crime prevention and the reduction of violence. An important part of those efforts is reaching kids through anti-bullying efforts like the Stand Up! program. Grant recipients like Me to We are a testament to how the financial support provided by the Civil Forfeiture Office is making a difference in the lives of thousands of British Columbians.”

Learn More:

For an update on ERASE: http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/downloads/ERASE_FACTSHEET.pdf

ERASE Bullying website: http://www.erasebullying.ca/

BC's Education Plan: http://www.bcedplan.ca/

Follow ERASE on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/ERASEbullyingBC

Me to We: http://www.metowe.com/

Media Contacts:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963