Community
November 18, 2015
“The program literally saved me from a bad situation by making me feel like I wasn’t alone. I never would have thought that I would finish high school let alone attend university as I am doing now. Thanks to the program I am sure there are other stories out there like mine.” – Melanie, former GTA high school student and Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Committee Member
Toronto – Over the past 15 academic years, Toronto Argonauts players, cheerleaders and staff have profoundly, and positively, affected thousands of G.T.A. youth just like Melanie.
Today, during the Ontario Ministry of Education’s Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week (November 16-November 20, 2015), the Toronto Argonauts Football Club announced that the 15th year of its award-winning Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Program, presented by Tim Hortons, is officially at capacity for the 2015/16 school year.
During Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week, the Huddle Up Bullying Prevention program has scheduled seven leadership committee meetings at schools throughout the G.T.A., and has 17 more committee meetings scheduled through the end of the calendar year in December.
Since the inaugural season of the Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Program in 2000 it has accomplished and received notable recognition throughout the country. The program has visited more than 500,000 students across eight different school boards in the Greater Toronto Area with nearly 50 different Argonauts players. In 2016, the program will continue to leave its mark as the longest standing community program facilitated by a sports team in the city by hosting 40 Argos player assemblies and seminars from January-April 2016.
HOW DOES HUDDLE UP WORK?
The success of the program is due in part to its structure as a full-year program. Starting each Fall, the Argonauts work with youth who are identified as students who bully, students who are bullied and students that are part of teams and clubs where they can possess a power of popularity. This group of students, called the Huddle Up Student Committee, prepares their school before, during and after their bullying prevention assembly. This helps to empower youth and customize the program to the school.
The assembly is highlighted by a visit from a Toronto Argonauts player or cheerleader, and staff member who share messages and personal stories about bullying prevention and positive choices. Topics addressed throughout the programming range from physical and verbal intimidation, to cyber-bullying,to female bullying prevention strategies. Parents and teachers are also invited to be active participants during special evening informational sessions where they learn more about bullying tactics and support their students in overall prevention.