Queen’s University professor Wendy Craig, and York University professor Debra Pepler, co-scientific directors of the Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network (PREVNet), are unveiling a new toolkit for educators in conjunction with Bullying Awareness Week, Nov. 17-23.

Drs. Craig and Pepler and PREVNet worked with the Ministry of Education to create the new resource, Facts and Tools for Schools, which includes over 100 pages of information to support ongoing bullying prevention at Ontario schools. The tools are designed to provide evidence-based strategies to recognize, assess, prevent, intervene and develop a bully prevention policy in Ontario schools.

“We want educators to implement these tools in school settings to support work already ongoing,” says Dr. Craig. “We need to come together to address bullying and tools like this one developed by PREVNet is another important step.”

One highlight of the resource is a fact sheet defining bullying. It outlines what is bullying is, what the various forms of bullying are, the difference between bullying, aggression and teasing, and how educators can identify these three areas. There is also an emphasis on a whole school approach to promoting healthy relationships.

The theme of this year’s awareness week is Stand Up To Bullying.

“This is an important document and this is an important week to keep the discussion about bullying alive,” says Dr.Craig. “The week can act as a springboard to further the conversation about bullying. What is really important is what happens the week after Bullying Awareness Week and the months that follow. What we are doing is working but there is always room for improvement.”

To read more about Fact and Tools for Schools visit the website.