Pizza Pizza partners with expert on bullying awareness

Nov. 25, 2014, Toronto – Parenting and relationships
expert Karyn Gordon discussed the topic of bullying in five Ontario schools during
National Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week in partnership with Pizza Pizza.

Nov. 25, 2014, Toronto – Parenting and relationships
expert Karyn Gordon discussed the topic of bullying in five Ontario schools during
National Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week in partnership with Pizza Pizza.

Gordon’s interactive presentation, “Friendships Unplugged,” targets
students in Grades 1 through 8. The campaign was part of an effort by
the Ontario Ministry of Education to promote safe school environments and
positive learning via “broad discourses” on bullying, said a news release from
Pizza Pizza.

“This is a very important subject for the most vulnerable
people in our society, our children,” says Pat Finelli, the company’s chief marketing
officer, in the release. “They represent our future and bullying is not only an
attack on individuals, but it compromises our future as a society. Our company
is dedicated to working with Dr. Gordon to promote healthy relationships for
our young ones and we are proud to be able to help her share her anti-bullying
message with our youth, school authorities and parents. 

Gordon begins each presentation with a two-minute video
featuring celebrities talking about friendship, then transforms the assembly
into a mock talk show with four audience volunteers portraying four friends.
The volunteers are pre-selected by teachers to create a short yet meaningful
skit on bullying and relationships.

“Bullying has become a prominent issue among our youth around
the world,” Dr. Gordon noted in the release. “It is a major shortfall in
behaviour for many young persons who don't know how to comfort themselves any
better or have no idea how to make friends. Like anything else, they need to be
taught.”