TORONTO, May 2, 2003 -- York University’s LaMarsh Centre for Research on Violence and Conflict Resolution has received $600,000 in support from the Government of Canada’s National Crime Prevention Strategy to create a national strategy on bullying to make Canada a safer place for children and youth.

The Honourable Wayne Easter, Solicitor General of Canada, announced the grant today at York, and funding for 119 other crime prevention projects across Ontario, totalling $8 million. The LaMarsh Centre’s three-year project combines the expertise of researchers and practitioners in the field of child development at York University, the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, Queen’s University and the University of British Columbia.

"The real heart of our National Crime Prevention Strategy lies in the dedication and commitment of the people who work so hard to address the root causes of crime and victimization," said Minister Easter. "By working together - governments, the private sector, schools, community groups and individuals - we're not just talking about it, we're doing it. What's evident here today is the importance of partnerships."

York University Vice-President, Research and Innovation, Stan Shapson, praised the government’s national crime prevention strategy for supporting both academic research and community action. "York University’s interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to research combines expertise in many fields to address complex issues and deliver real-world solutions. This approach is yielding more comprehensive results that translate into better public policy and practice in the community," said Shapson.

York University Prof. Debra Pepler, lead researcher in the LaMarsh project, noted the growing concern in Canada related to a number of severe cases of children who died or were seriously impaired by bullying. "A national strategy on bullying represents an important crime prevention initiative because children who bully are at increased risk for engaging in illegal activities, such as delinquency and substance abuse," said Pepler. She has found that the use of power and aggression found in playground bullying is a key component of sexual harassment and dating aggression. It may also lay the foundation for workplace harassment, marital aggression, child abuse, and elder abuse.

"It is our belief that all children in Canada have the fundamental right to be safe from bullying and harassment in their homes, schools and communities," said Pepler. She said a national strategy on bullying would build a broad, multi-sectoral coalition of national and local organizations supporting grassroots efforts to combat the problem, with leading-edge research on the most effective ways to assess and intervene in bullying. "The aim is to promote more effective practice based on research evidence, leading to a system-wide change in the way organizations and communities respond," said Pepler.

According to World Health Organization data, bullying reported by Canadian students falls in the mid-range for 11 countries; 45 per cent of boys and 32 per cent of girls reported they had bullied another student at least once during the school term. Similarly, 42 per cent of boys and 35 per cent of girls reported that they had been the targets of bullying in school during the term. Studies show that children who both bully and are bullied are at greater risk of depression, anxiety and suicide, and even children who watch bullying may be affected.

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For further information, please contact:

Prof. Debra Pepler	Susan Bigelow
LaMarsh Centre	Media Relations
York University	York University
416-736-5528	416-736-2100, ext. 22091
pepler@yorku.ca	sbigelow@yorku.ca

YU/045/03