Give Respect - Get Respect - Join The Movement

The Give Respect – Get Respect – Join The Movement Bullying Awareness and Prevention Campaign Enters Its Second Year.

Last fall a collaborative partnership to address bullying was struck between the Halton Regional Police Service, Halton Region, Halton District School Board and Halton Catholic District School Board. At that time, high school students region-wide were challenged to develop messages and calls to action on the issue.

In May participants were invited to a gala event where all of the submissions were unveiled and four winners announced. At the time, students were told that the winning submissions would form part of an ongoing campaign to reduce bullying.

This week, and coinciding with National Bullying Awareness Week, the winning poster, entitled “Words Can Hurt But They Also Can Heal” began appearing as an advertisement on buses in Oakville, Milton and Burlington. The poster, produced by a Lester B. Pearson High School student, depicts a young girl crouched down in a depressed state in front of a brick wall. Several snapshots of the girl from left to right show her evolution to a standing position and finally a leap of triumph. The words written below her starting on the left are oppressive and cruel, and change to those of acceptance and encouragement. It illustrates the profound impact words can have on one’s psyche.

Today, a second winning entry – a “Give Respect – Get Respect” video from Milton District High School – launches as part of pre-show movie screenings at the Galaxy Cineplex theatre in Milton. The video talks about the evolving forms of bullying, increased awareness and a call to youth to take action to stop bullying. Coinciding with the debut of the wildly popular Twilight Saga series, the video will run at Galaxy Cineplex until November 24. Encore Theatres in Burlington and Oakville will also air the video as part of their holiday season December 26 through January 2.

The first place entry from the 2011 Give Respect Get Respect Join the Movement campaign was a calendar containing positive messaging and posters submitted by T. A. Blakelock High School. Each Thursday is designated “Wear BLUE stand up against bullying” and Mondays convey a weekly goal such as “Support a student who has been subjected to bullying” or “Avoid judgments based on how others dress or talk”.

Finally, a video from E.C. Drury powerfully depicts the impact of bullying, its link in some cases to suicide and a call for youth to “Close the Door on Bullying”. Recognizing the impact the video could have on some youth, members from each school board, Halton Region and the Halton Regional Police Service are working on a package to ensure the video is implemented appropriately with specific guidelines and follow-up requirements.

The 2012 Give Respect Get Respect Join the Movement program will focus on the power of students to create a respectful positive environment to prevent bullying. The challenge has been extended to include all Halton students from grades six through 12. For more information on the program, visit www. haltonpolice.ca under Community Policing in the Youth section.

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