 October 2009: Queen's Park
SUNNIE McFADDEN-CURTIS
In October 2009, the London anti-bullying coalition, the York region anti-bullying coalition and I met with MPP Elizabeth Witmer, the Progressive Conservative Education Critic and Former Minister of Education. We raised a list of concerns regarding bullying within the school system and shared the stories and experiences of bullying.
At the end of our meeting Mrs. Witmer agreed to help – she has held true to her word.
 Mrs. Witmer, with the assistance of her office staff, undertook a research project to understand bullying within our school system. As part of the research, a survey was conducted among Education stakeholders. The purpose of the survey was twofold:
The support was outstanding.
Mrs. Witmer organized a press conference to be held on February 18, 2010. The purpose was to announce her resolution to officially recognize “Bullying Awareness & Prevention Week” and call attention to the growing concern about student bullying and violence.
 At the press conference Mrs. Witmer called upon Katie Neu (BullyingCanada.ca) Lesa McDougall (Teacher) and myself to share stories and knowledge of bullying. I attended representing the two coalitions and myself.
After the press conference, we were invited into the Legislature while the resolution was read, debated and then voted upon. Mrs. Witmer’s Resolution called on the Ontario Government to: Officially recognize the 3rd week of each November as “Bullying Awareness & Prevention Week,” in Ontario. As part of this, every Safe School Team in the province would direct the development of activities for their school during “Bullying Awareness & Prevention Week.”
I am happy to announce the resolution was passed and is officially on the books scheduled to begin in November 2010.
Thank you for being a part in making this happen. You heard the children, you gave them a voice.
—Sunnie
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