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Thursday, March 04, 2004
Aliant and the law enforcement agencies of Pictou County launch Bullying Awareness campaign

Signs of bullying will soon be all around Pictou County - in schools, on the radio and school buses as the Law Enforcement Agencies of Pictou County, Aliant and Corporate Communications Limited (CCL) partner to launch a new public awareness campaign with the tag line “Bullying - Just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not going on.”

The bullying awareness campaign is made up of two parts, an educational session delivered by local police officers on the realities and types of bullying, and the Bullying Hotline, a toll-free phone number that is answered by a specially trained professional.

“The Bullying campaign will raise awareness about the presence of bullying in Pictou County and educate students about how to prevent this ongoing reality,” says Constable Ken MacDonald, New Glasgow Police Service. “Through Aliant’s support and with the Bullying Hotline, our youth now have a safe place to turn.”

The Bullying Hotline, 310-TALK (8255), was created by Law Enforcement Agencies of Pictou County and is sponsored by Aliant.

"The Bullying Hotline is a valuable resource for victims, parents, educators and bullies," said Don MacKay, Aliant Regional Manager, for Northeastern Nova Scotia. "Helping to deliver and expand this program into Pictou County is one way Aliant is working to help the youth of our region lead happy and healthy lives."

As part of the awareness campaign, radio public service announcements, posters, magnets and bumper stickers were created by CCL, and printed by Aliant, to target the young people bullying affects most.

The Law Enforcement Agencies of Pictou County consist of New Glasgow Police Service, Westville Police Service, Stellarton Police Service, Trenton Police Department and the RCMP of Pictou County and Pictou County Crime Prevention. Representatives from each of the departments will present the campaign to all schools throughout Pictou County during March and April.

The Bullying Awareness campaign was launched in the Halifax Regional Municipality and Cape Breton Municipality in September, 2002 and in Kentville and the surrounding areas in September, 2003.

Attached is the radio public service announcement that will run on CKEC Radio throughout the month of March promoting the hotline, as well as the poster, magnet and bumper sticker promoting the program.

For additional information about Aliant's support of bullying initiatives, please contact Dawn Boylan at dawn.boylan@aliant.ca or (902) 487-4738. To learn more about Aliant's community investment program visit www.aliant.ca/community.

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