Education Minister Stephen Lecce was in Barrie on Monday afternoon to discuss the issue of bullying in our schools with community leaders and front-line workers about how to solve the problem.
Lecce met with Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MPP and Attorney General Doug Downey, Barrie-Innisfil MPP Andrea Khanjin and Barrie Police Chief Kimberley Greenwood to discuss bullying and its effects on youth.
The meeting took place at the Seasons Centre for Grieving Children on McDonald Street and included some staff and volunteers who are dealing with teens experiencing bullying.
Lecce told BarrieToday he was glad to meet with those who have been facing the issue and learn how the government can help them in their fight against it.
“It's also a reminder just how pervasive it is and how much more the government and the community needs to do to keep kids safe,” Lecce said. “Today was about listening to those who are on the front lines and it's beautiful to see the relationship and synergies between law enforcement, education partners, non-profits and the community.”
The Seasons Centre organization helps children, teens and their families grieving the death or life-threatening illness of an immediate family member.
Managing director Rowley Ramey told BarrieToday that, while those who come for help are usually dealing with issues not necessarily connected to bullying, it is there in some form.
“We hear more about it in our suicide groups,” Ramey said. “I think we hear a little less about bullying than we should in grieving circles, in that they’re already dealing with highly dramatic events that seems to put the bullying to the background.
"As we pull back the layers, we see it is there in some form most of the time.”
Greenwood said the conversation was helpful in discussing what programs are currently available to assist youth in the battles they face everyday.
“I think we’ve seen a change in what one might call the traditional form of bullying, that face-to-face form,” the chief said. “But now we have cyber-bullying and it takes on a much broader scope. More people can be victimized and multiple people can be hurt quicker.
“The approach (Barrie police is) taking is to make sure we have the tools so people can report any form of bullying much easier," Greenwood added. "On our website, we have a section to report bullying, but we still have to have our school resource officers in the schools, speaking with parents, with staff and teachers.”
