Raising awareness about the negative effects of bullying and counteracting them was the focus of a presentation to members of the Olds Kiwanis Club during the club's regular meeting last week.
Corey Ripley, representing the Stop Bullying Program, told Kiwanians the program began 10 years ago in Red Deer and was meant to be a one-time only initiative when Bully prevention – A guide for children and parents was published. It then morphed into awareness programs at schools, and by 2005 was in 80 towns throughout Alberta and B.C. With a booming economy, however, the focus shifted to more advocacy and awareness, as the organization had a tough time recruiting people to help run the program.
This year, the program came to Olds for the first time, raising awareness through engaging citizens in a conversation about the issue while parked at various local businesses. The program had 15 local commercial sponsors who donated about $12,000 to the program.
“We're more focused on awareness. We have a trailer. It acts more like a billboard,” he said.
The program also distributes about 1,000 copies of a newsletter twice a month in five towns throughout Central Alberta, including Olds. The newsletter's objective is to help pay for the program. It also gives some recognition to the program's sponsors.
The program is also currently working behind the scenes with counsellors to help those who are either victims of bullying, or the bullies themselves, by working to change behaviour. Ripley said that part of the program is just in its initial stages and more fundraising needs to be done before it can be offered on a large scale.
“Before we commit to what we're going to do beyond the fundraising, we need to make sure we have the dollars,” he said.
Nov. 13-20 was designated National Anti-bullying Week.
"Before we commit to what we're going to do beyond the fundraising, we need to make sure we have the dollars." Corey Ripley, advocate, Stop Bullying Program
