The Yorkton Partnership Against Violence Committee and Canadian Red Cross recognize that bullying is a problem in schools, and want help put a stop to it. Together with the Grade 4, 5, 7, and 8 classes at Yorkdale School, they held a Moving Forward, Stand Up to Bullying event, which featured a walk, balloon release, and presentation by Keith Shologan from the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Melanie Horton, with the Red Cross and the Partnership Against Violence Committee, says that the event is about getting awareness out about bullying, and why it needs to be stopped in schools. She says that the event is tied in to National Victims of Crime Awareness Week, and that people need to realize that victims of bullying are victims of crime.

Kids at the school all also received a pink shirt. Cheryl Tiller with Parkland Victims Services explains that the pink shirts are worn to bring awareness to the problem, and the campaign is why the Red Cross was a partner in the event.

“It’s important that the kids get to see people from the community coming in and talking about something that is real.

I think bullying is a real issue within schools, workplaces and the community. If we can sit down with grades 4-8, that’s an important message. Don’t stand for bullying, whether it’s bullying for yourself or if you see someone else getting bullying,” Tiller says.

Horton says that it’s especially important in the modern world, as things like Facebook can bring bullying into the social media and give it further reach.

Tiller would like to thank the students and teachers of Yorkdale for being so supportive of the cause.