Local teen appointed to Alberta Prevention of Bullying Youth Committee

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice.

 Anti-bullying advocate Erica Ross 
C. Davis photo

Bullying.  It knows no limits, respects no boundaries.  It happens to people of every age, gender religion, and ethnicity.  Bullying can happen anywhere: in schools, on buses, online, in the workplace, and sadly, at home.  "We have all been bullied at some point or another.  It is so common, I don't think I know of anyone that hasn't been,"  opined Erica Ross, a 17 year-old student at Matthew Halton High School.


Ross is one of 15 students across Alberta that has been appointed to the Alberta Prevention of Bullying Youth Committee.  The committee provides the Government of Alberta Children and Youth Services with valuable youthful perspective of the bullying issue.  Thousands of young people between the ages of 15 and 22 applied, and Erica became one of two to represent southern Alberta.  She is going into her second year on the committee.


"We meet three times a year," said Ross.  The committee members meet with three adult facilitators, but there is a lot of self direction that allows them the freedom to create a system that works with and for them.  "We have been asked to create an action plan," Ross said.  She is planning to work with other agencies to help create a positive influence that will spread past the boundaries of age.  "Adults are bullied too."  Ross has approached at least two other agencies in Pincher Creek that deal with the aftermath of bullying or violence to see if partnerships are possible.

When asked if there were different degrees of this behavior, Ross said "Bullying is bullying.  You don't know how you are hurting the other person, or how it will change them." Does this young lady believe that a positive change is possible?  'It is not natural.  It can change,"  she explained.  "Years ago, everyone thought it was natural to smoke.  Everyone did it, nobody really thought about it."  She explained that with education a social shift happened.  "Now fewer people smoke, and where they smoke is restricted."  She believes change can happen if enough people work towards a change, and if there are leaders that help to show the way.

Everyone should have the freedom to feel good about themselves.  Ross encourages onlookers who see bullying going on to step up.  "There is strength in numbers," she said.  Bullies are looking for a reaction. If someone else steps on the side of the person being bullied, it discourages the bullying behavior.

Ross will be building her action plan with an emphasis on the building of relationships, friendship, and education.  She is aiming to have some action before the month of November.  "November is National Family Violence Awareness Month, and the 13th to 19th of that month is National Bullying Awareness Week."

Alberta's Bullying Prevention Helpline is available toll-free 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-888-456-2323.  Help can be provided in more than 170 languages.

Toll free help lines:
Bullying Helpline  1-888-456-2323
Child abuse hotline  1-800-387-KIDS (5437)
Kids Help Phone  1-800-668-6868

Online resources:
education.alberta.ca/teachers/safeschools/bullying-prevention.aspx
www.b-free.ca/home/530.html

Help Create a Bully-Free Alberta.