Bullying
Liberal MP for Vancouver Centre Hedy Fry was to appear before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights Monday to answer questions about her private members bill to amend the Criminal Code in regard to cyberbullying. Fry wants clauses that address criminal harassment, false messages and defamatory libel to be expanded to include digital media. These sections apply to telephone, newspaper and broadcast media.
Vancouver schools are participating in Pink Day activities Feb. 27. Pink Day started in 2007 when two Grade 12 boys and their friends in Nova Scotia organized a school protest where boys wore pink in sympathy with a Grade 9 boy who was bullied for wearing a pink shirt. Participants wear pink to symbolize that they wont tolerate bullying.
Award winning filmmaker Lee Hirschs 2011 documentary film Bully will screen March 7 at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver, 950 West 41st Ave., free of charge. The film follows five kids and families over the course of a school year, documenting a different facet of whats described as Americas bullying crisis. For more information, see jccgv.com.
Jubilee
Steve Cardwell said his English Mum was proud to see her son receive a Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal, Feb. 21. She travelled from her home in Parksville to Victoria to see her son, who is the superintendent of the Vancouver School Board, and two other B.C. educators awarded the medal that marks the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth IIs rule. Nominated by former education minister George Abbott and Valerie Overgaard, recently retired associate superintendent for the Vancouver School Board, Cardwell was recognized as a long-standing supporter of public education. Cardwell serves on a roster of provincial committees and a government press release states Cardwell continues to be widely known as an advocate of ethical leadership, building and fostering strong working relationships and demonstrating exemplary communication skills. Cardwell said the recognition is an honour. I accept the award in the name of all the educators who strive to make a difference in the lives of children, he said. This, to me, is just representative of the great work that goes on in British Columbia, the great teachers, great support staff and administrators who work tirelessly to make a difference.
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