Evergreen Heights Education Centre students in Emsdale were paid a special visit by the No Time for That anti-bullying society (NTFT) on April 8. The school was included as part of its tour, Powered by BRP, spreading education and awareness, delivering powerful anti-bullying messages, and fostering inclusivity.
NTFT was founded by award-winning performing artist and motivational speaker Elsie Morden at age 17 after surviving years of traumatic bullying.
Since its inception in 2012, NTFT performers and motivational speakers have empowered youth and educators with school presentations about kindness and mental health awareness through storytelling and song. To date, over 700 school presentations have been delivered, directly impacting over 170,000 Canadian students and educators.
“The ability for kids to see that other people have gone through what they’re going through is so important,” said Evergreen Heights teacher Taylor Poplar.
School bullying is a deep-rooted problem that can devastate young individuals and have lasting effects into adulthood. Elementary students face bullying every 7 minutes, 85 per cent of these incidents have bystanders (safecanada.ca/bullying-in-Canada/). According to the Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (CHSCY), bullying remains a significant issue for Canadian youth between 12-17 years old.
“The detrimental impact of bullying on mental health, self-esteem, and overall well-being cannot be underestimated. No child should ever face a daily battle against cruelty, fear, and isolation. It is a shared societal responsibility to provide a nurturing environment that protects our youth from such torment and guides them toward a path of growth and self-discovery,” according to NTFT.
“I know some people might be rude, but I can stand up to them and maybe change their perspective,” said Evergreen Heights Grade 4 student Mikeala Goida. “I like to play hockey because I’m allowed to be whoever I want to be on the ice.”
Michelle Treacy, NTFT presenter and performing artist, spread anti-bullying messages with music while students participated.
“It’s important now more than ever to prioritize bullying prevention and mental health support, offering hope amidst life’s challenges,” she said. “Music transcends barriers and serves as both a healer and a bridge for connection, making our school presentations relevant and memorable. I’m honoured to share my personal journey about being bullied with students and to remind them that they are not alone, that there is hope, and to be kind to ourselves and others.”
The program is free. “Through our generous donors and sponsors, including the NTFT Tour sponsor BRP and The Dollar A Day Foundation, our presentations are, and will always be, free of charge to schools. This eliminates any cost barrier to accessing our programs. Accessibility equity is paramount to us as an organization because we believe that everyone deserves these resources. This is why in addition to returning to our in-person tour in 2024, we are continuing our virtual programming which allows for expanded accessibility. Schools can join from anywhere at any time, including from remote communities,” according to Melissa Toews, Board Chair, NTFT.
You can find more information about this organization at https://www.ntft.ca/
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Kathryn Henderson says
I know of several kids that are and have been bullied. The teacher is told but nothing is done until the victim hits back and the victim gets suspended as there is a no violence rule. What a joke. I don’t see anything being done to the bully. Usually they have mental [health] problems and nothing is done.