Innisfail school kids have stepped up to the plate against bullying.
The Sept. 17 “Wear Orange Day”, initiated by Talitha Watkinson – president of the Innisfail Minor Football Association – is being considered an overwhelming success.
“The students of Innisfail Middle School (IMS) were very supportive of the cause with close to 60 per cent of students wearing orange clothing. All students were very respectful in wearing their orange bracelet as a sign of community unity against this most recent violent act against an Innisfail youth,” said Jay Steeves, school principal. “We are also very proud that one of our young male students was responsible for this idea of recognition towards the young man injured.
“The students of IMS really hope that perceptions of youth in Innisfail are not tainted by the act of a small, unguided few,” he added.
Watkinson said the idea for a Wear Orange Day came from a local 12-year-old youth who heard that a member of the football league's bantam team, Aidan Remple, had been bullied and assaulted while longboarding in Raspberry Park on Aug. 25.
“A 12-year-old boy's simple idea to do ‘something' has grown into a community-wide campaign that has empowered the citizens of Innisfail to stand up and stand together,” said Watkinson, whose bantam and peewee football teams wore orange ribbons and bands to support Remple during football games earlier this month in Calgary. “There has been quite a bit of media coverage surrounding what happened to Aidan which has only helped to raise awareness of a community-wide problem.
“People of Innisfail are now united in the fight against bullying and in support of the people that stand up and refuse to become victims,” she said.
All of Innisfail's schools were invited to wear orange last week, including the Chinook Center School, where young students enthusiastically sent their own message of support.
"It is unfortunate that it takes such a disturbing event to get the community rallied around a cause, but from what I have seen and heard in the community, a lot of great discussions took place,” said Leslie Ramsell, a member of the school's administration team. “Hopefully the increased awareness and involvement will help to put a stop to bullying."
Watkinson said the campaign now includes a Facebook group -- www.facebook.com/wearorangeforaiden -- which she added, “has over 200 likes and is still growing.
“There are fans from across Canada and into the United States, and it's reached people as far away as the Philippines, Switzerland, and New Zealand,” said Watkinson of the program's growth and popularity. “I've heard stories of employees of the Co-op participating, Raspberry Park being decked out in orange ribbons, even the Penhold School of Dance participating. There is a new group, the Bully Resiliency Coalition, that has been formed to address the problem.”
Meanwhile, Innisfail RCMP have arrested and charged three male youths and one male in connection to the Aug. 25 attack on Remple.
The three youths, two aged 14 and one 16-year-old, are charged with assault while the adult is facing charges of assault with a weapon and robbery.
The youths will appear in Red Deer provincial youth court on Oct. 3 while the 20-year-old will make his first appearance in adult provincial court on Oct. 4. RCMP said three of the accused are related.
