Supporting Safe Schools In Ontario
McGuinty Government Launches Bullying Awareness And Prevention Week
Ontario has designated the third week of every November as Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week.
The week is a valuable opportunity to raise awareness of bullying-related issues and make a difference in school communities across the province. Since 2004 the Ontario government has supported a number of safe schools initiatives to create safe and inclusive school environments including:
- Safe schools teams in every Ontario school
- A partnership with Kids Help Phone to support over 50,000 students who have been bullied or faced other issues
- The Keeping Our Kids Safe at School Act, which requires all board employees to report incidents of bullying to the principal, and requires principals to contact the parents of victims. Ontario is the first province in Canada with legislation of this kind; making schools even safer and leading the way for its students to succeed.
- Bullying and harassment can affect a student's health, mental well-being and school success, according to a 2008 study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
- Since 2004, the McGuinty government has invested over $230 million in its Safe Schools Strategy.
“Safe schools are a prerequisite for student success. Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week is another opportunity to speak up and speak out on this important issue and promote a safe and inclusive learning environment.”