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The presentation focused on bullying, healthy relationship and stress management. (submitted photo/Tammy Cook-Searson)
Imagine no bullying

Sask. Roughrider delivers Beyond the Hurt program at SMVS

Feb 27, 2020 | 4:50 PM

Saskatchewan Roughrider Dan Clark was at Senator Myles Venne School this afternoon encouraging students to imagine a world without bullying.

Clark spent the day speaking to students in Grades 5 to 12 delivering the Beyond the Hurt program in conjunction with the Canadian Red Cross. He talked about bullying and harassment in schools, as well as shared personal stories of his own experience with those topics.

“We establish what bullying is, and what the difference is between someone being mean or rude at one time to it becoming repeated,” Clark said. “I think the biggest one we are working on with students as well to make a big change is not only the bullying that’s happening in the playground or in the schools, but the bullying that’s happening on the internet.”

The main focus of the presentation was about bullying, healthy relationships, and stress management. If students are having problems in either one of those three issues, Clark said there is always a support system that should be available to help.

The Roughriders have been involved with this partnership with the Canadian Red Cross since 2009 and, in that time, Clark mentioned the situation surrounding bullying is improving. He said kids have shown a willingness to learn and there’s been changes to attitudes.

“You can get the biggest guy in the world to come in here and give a presentation, but it’s the stories they have that hit home,” Clark said. “I faced a bullying situation multiple times in my life at a younger age. Would I say I’m completely over those things I were told when I was a kid, I would be absolutely wrong and be lying.”

Clark also passed on advice to students on how they could prevent bullying. With cyber-bullying for instance, he said if students see a rude comment online or inappropriate photo being shared, they should take action. For example, they could leave a positive message and refuse to pass along the photo.

Other Saskatchewan Roughriders including Jorgen Hus, Brett Lauther and alumni Eddie Steele are also currently touring the province delivering the program with plans to visit 40 communities. By the end of last year, Clark said he travelled more than 10,000 kilometres and visited nearly 6,000 students.

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno

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