Rallying For The Cause
b>Shawn Merrithew
The Bugle-Observer
A1
A local college student is rallying support to his cause – stamping out bullying across the country.
On Monday morning, first-year journalism student at NBCC Woodstock Robert Frenette held a Blue Day rally to gather more support for his national petition, which is circulating across the country.
The Bathurst native is lobbying the federal government to make Blue Day, slated for Dec. 17, an official day to recognize anti-bully organizations across Canada and help put an end to bullying.
Frenette, a co-founder of BullyingCanada.ca – the first youth-created anti-bullying site – said there is no actual awareness days for bullying, but it is an important issue which needs to be addressed by all.
"Bullying is a global problem," explained Frenette. "It is something we are not only experiencing in our classrooms, but we are also experiencing our workplaces and our communities. I think this should definitely be an initiative that we could use to curb that issue, even though it is not something that will go away over night. But it is definitely something we can hopefully get more awareness on. The more awareness we have, the better we can curb it."
Frenette said he chose Dec. 17, as the date in recognition of his own anti-bullying Web site, which began operation Dec. 17, 2006. Since then, he said, the site has had more than 200 visitors a day, seeking advice, support or just someone to listen to their story.
"This would be a great way to recognize a milestone," he said.
Monday's rally in the college cafeteria was held to make staff, students and residents aware of the petition as well as the upcoming Blue Day rally at the Woodstock High School on Dec. 17 – which parents, educators, students and the public are encouraged to attend and wear blue to support for anti-bullying initiatives.
"With our rally, we are hoping to get more support and hopefully get the initiative brought into effect at a local level where it has been recognized," Frenette said. "Everyone has a voice."
The Town of Woodstock is already on board with Frenette. On Nov. 10, council declared the town to be a bully-free community, and Mayor Art Slipp was calling on all citizens to help make it so.
Slipp said he was pleased to endorse and support Frenette's cause.
"Bullying has been a problem for a long time, and it is not restricted exclusively to Woodstock by any means," said Mayor Slipp. "Having been a teacher, I was aware of the initiatives of District 14, but it is great to see these going to a higher level. The town wanted to support the petition because we feel this is a serious issue."
In October, Slipp said he met with a group of high school students, who discussed their fears and experiences with bullying, proving bullying is an ongoing issue within the community.
"Certainly there is an issue here as there is in every community," he explained. "Council is always supportive of good petitions and things that are going to improve the lives of all Canadians and Woodstock citizens in particular."
Slipp added he is pleased to see Frenette take the initiative and he should be commended for his efforts for Blue Day.
"He speaks from personal experience, and that adds credibility to what he is doing," Slipp said. "I think we need to address this on a national level. The attempt to get Blue Day an national day of recognition for groups who are working on this issue in trying to alleviate the psychological and physical impact of bullying is certainly commendable."
Frenette is hoping the federal government will listen to his petition and Blue Day will be put into effect soon, rather than later. He expects the process will take about six months before it is brought up in Parliament, he said, and he plans to be there when it is being done.
In the meantime, Frenette is also approaching the MLAs in the Legislature to have his initiative endorsed provincially.
"We are going step by step to get it a federal day," Frenette added.
