Argos, White Ribbon Campaign And Status Of Women Canada Officially Launch ‘huddle Up & Make The Call – A Gender Based Violence Prevention Project’

ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF

TORONTO – The Toronto Argonauts have partnered with the White Ribbon Campaign to take a stand against gender-based violence throughout the local Toronto community. Media are invited to watch this innovative new project in action at Sir John A. Macdonald C.I. in Scarborough as Argos player alumnus, Chuck Winters, and current player and Toronto native, Matt Black, alongside White Ribbon Campaign staff, share personal stories and positive messages to address a school-wide assembly on the issue of gender-based violence, specifically men’s violence against women. The Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women will also be in attendance.

The project was officially announced last August with support from Status of Women Canada and Tim Hortons, and is entitled ‘Huddle Up & Make the Call – A Gender Based Violence Prevention Project’. Through the project, the White Ribbon Campaign and the Toronto Argonauts will engage men and boys to reduce violence against women and girls by delivering a violence prevention initiative in secondary schools in the Greater Toronto Area.

Commented Toronto Argonauts alumnus and Make the Call ambassador, Chuck Winters,“Our experiences in our daily walk of life mould and dictate the path we follow as we grow older.  My experiences as a young man dealing with gender based violence have led me here. By becoming a spokesperson, advocate, better husband, better father and an individual yearning to provide a voice, I hope that my message of resilience will resonate with someone who will then choose to alter their path in life for the positive. It is necessary for athletes and male role models to understand and become involved with helping to end men’s violence against women because of the platform we share to make a difference in the lives of others.”

This new project, which was inspired by the Argonauts’ long-standing and award winning Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Program, presented by Tim Hortons, will see White Ribbon Campaign representatives and Argonauts players and alumni deliver positive and inspiring anti-violence messages and calls to action in schools and communities. While spreading the message ‘Your Choice, Your Voice’, activities they will collaborate on include in-school engagements, youth leadership development, public service announcements, and general public education in the community and at Argonauts home games.

Todd Minerson, Executive Director of the White Ribbon Campaign, remarked, “White Ribbon is excited to be partnering with the Toronto Argonauts and Status of Women Canada in addressing gender-based violence in our local secondary schools. In the hallways and classrooms, we hope to empower students to engage their peers and communities in ending all forms of violence against women and girls. These assemblies are just one part towards the goal of promoting and supporting equitable, healthy relationships and a safe environment for all students.”

“We believe violence against women is an issue for all Canadians to address – women and men, girls and boys. We all must be a part of the solution,” said The Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women. “This unique approach has led our Government to support innovative projects like this one with the White Ribbon Campaign and the Toronto Argonauts to engage men and boys in ending violence against women and girls.”