Pizza Pizza helping to deliver anti-bullying message

Nov. 14, 2013, Toronto – Pizza Pizza has partnered with relationship and parenting expert Dr. Karyn Gordon to talk about bullying in Ontario schools.

“Kids are our future and we support many children’s and community initiatives across the country,” said Pat Finelli, chief marketing officer and vice-president of marketing at Pizza Pizza, in a press release. “We are dedicated to helping children and teens in Canada develop healthy relationships and tackle the issue of bullying.”

Gordon is delivering a presentation to six elementary schools. The speaking tour will begin on Nov. 19 with the first in-school presentation at Bogart Public School in Newmarket. There will also be a dedicated site, pizzapizza.ca/antibullying that allows Canadian students to share their healthy friendship stories and be rewarded with pizza.

The interactive talk will touch on various topics, including the three traits of a healthy friendship, how teasing is different than bullying (and how kids should respond differently), effective ways for kids to deal with conflict and differences among friends, and the importance of empathy in friendships and dealing with bullying. Students will also receive motivational coaching with advice on how to handle difficult situations.

“Bullying has become a prominent issue not just in Canada, but around the world,” said Gordon, in a media statement.

The tour will continue to the following public schools:

Nov. 19 (afternoon): Sam Chapman Public School, Markham

Nov. 21 (morning): Jack Minor Senior Public School, Scarborough

Nov. 21 (afternoon): Adam Beck Junior Public School, Toronto

Nov. 22 (morning): Alcona Glen Elementary School, Innisfil

Nov. 22 (afternoon): Cookstown Central Public School, Cookstown

The Canadian Institute of Health Research found that at least one in three adolescent students in Canada have reported being bullied, and 47 per cent of Canadian parents report having a child who is a victim of bullying.

Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week, which runs from Nov. 17 to 23, is part of an integrated campaign by the Ontario Ministry of Education to help promote safe schools and a positive learning environment through a broad discourse on bullying.