Airdrie City council may soon be deliberating on an anti-bullying bylaw.
Airdrie Mayor Peter Brown raised the topic at the Feb. 4 council meeting, with the result being a unanimous vote directing City staff to look into the feasibility of creating the legislation.
Brown said he was motivated to kick start the discussion after meeting with the mother of a teen who had attempted suicide as a result of bullying.
“Thankfully she wasn’t successful,” said Brown, adding the meeting took place about a month ago.
Brown said he isn’t sure how enforcement of an anti-bullying bylaw would be managed, but said a number of Alberta communities, such as Cochrane and Hanna, have similar policies in place.
In Cochrane bullies face fines and possible jail time for calling people names.
Town council's anti-bullying bylaw came into effect in November of 2012. Investigations will be done at the RCMP’s discretion based on the consistency and severity of the insults. The punishment for breaching the bylaw is a $250 fine for the first offence with subsequent offences carrying a fine of up to $1,000, six months in jail or community service.
Alderman Kelly Hegg expressed his approval of a possible bylaw.
“It think it’s something that we can hopefully get unanimous support for,” said Hegg, adding Alberta Education has a “pretty stringent” policy in the new Education Act, given Royal Assent last December.
Alberta Education (AE) anticipates the new legislation will come into force for the 2015-16 school year, once the regulatory review is complete and boards have had a chance to align their own policies and procedures, according to the AE website.
Hegg, principal at Mount View Elementary School in Calgary, said having an Airdrie anti-bullying bylaw would give a positive message about the community.
“I think it sends a message that people are treated fairly here, it doesn’t matter the age,” said Hegg. “It shows community is important to us.”
Hegg said the new Education Act will help define what bullying is.
“Once we define it… then we can work on some solutions,” he said.
Hegg said it is important to put an end to bullying, adding society has become much more aware about the issue in recent years.
“It gives people an opportunity to be confident and know they can count on other people for support,” said Hegg. “In the past, you just took it. Now, you have some strategies.”
Brenda Hume, executive director of Community Links, said the organization, which provides support and services to individuals and families in Airdrie and surrounding area, would support an anti-bullying bylaw.
“It’s definitely very welcome and we are looking forward to working with (Brown) to make this go forward, because I think it highlights a need for prevention of bullying in Airdrie,” said Hume.
Hume added an important part of bullying prevention is education, and as such it should be a key part of an anti-bullying bylaw.
“(Bullying) is prevalent within the schools and community,” said Hume. “A big piece of this should be education from all sectors. It is great that the City of Airdrie has taken the lead.”
Council will discuss the anti-bullying bylaw at a future meeting.
