A Quebec Major Junior Hockey team is taking a stance against bullying and is hoping students will join them.
The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles are sending out pledge banners to middle schools in the area and encouraging students to sign the pledge of respect and to be respectful to others.
The banners will be placed throughout the Centre 200 during an Eagles hockey game.
The initiative is in partnership with the Cape Breton Victoria Regional School Board.
The acting co-ordinator of school services, Donnie Holland, says bullying is an issue that's important to stand up against.
“It won't be the adults that stop bullying, it will be the other kids,” says Holland. “They will get together and decide they won't tolerate it. Bullying is generally not done in the view of an adult or around witnesses, it's done around other kids.”
Holland says if this event makes a few more students speak up or stand up for their friends it will be a success.
“More or less it's to educate them,” says Holland. “Hopefully this is a positive impact in the community. That's what we are looking at for them to respect others.”
Fifteen hundred tickets have been sent out to students taking the pledge so that they can attend the game next Friday night. At that time, four school banners will be randomly selected to win a school visit from the Screaming Eagles.
In addition, a student will be selected by each school as an anti-bullying ambassador and will participate in the ceremonial puck drop.
“The Eagles are great ambassadors going to the school and getting the good messages of treating people with respect and the value of education,” says Holland. “The fact that it's going to be a televised game is great as well, because it will reach a far greater audience.”
Chris Tournidis, the Eagles marketing manager, is hoping the anti-bullying themed game will become an annual event in the community.
“I really feel that this is something that's very important and something I'd like to do each year. This is just the first year in starting it but I think there's a lot more we can do,” says Tournidis.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Kyle Moore
