Bullying awareness campaign sees Pizza Pizza, expert team up

Toronto – Pizza Pizza is teaming up with a noted expert on bullying for the third year as part of Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week.

As part of an integrated campaign by the Ontario Ministry of Education, Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week helps promote safe schools and creates positive learning environments through a broad discourse on bullying. The campaign will include a school tour from Nov. 15 to 21.

Karyn Gordon, a parenting and relationship expert in North America, will deliver her interactive presentation themed “Friendships Unplugged: The Power of the Bystander” to Ontario students during the week.

Schools across Canada will organize bullying awareness activities. Students in grades 1-8ive selected schools for students in grades 1-8 will hear Gordon’s interactive talk.

“We’re working with schools that participate in Pizza Pizza’s School Lunch Program to bring them Dr. Karyn Gordon to help spread this very important message,” said Pat Finelli, chief marketing officer at Pizza Pizza, in the release. “It’s important for children to know that they have the power to end the cycle of bullying, even if they aren’t the target.”

Students will be shown how to build healthy friendships and how to deal with conflict effectively including understanding the power of the bystander. The workshop begins with a two-minute video, after which Gordon turns the assembly into a popular mock “talk-show” format, selecting four volunteers from the audience to portray four friends. The short but powerful skit helps students to identify with one of the different characters.