ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
Toronto – The Toronto Argonauts Football Club has been at the forefront of helping to eradicate bullying in GTA schools for well over a decade through its award-winning Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Program. Presented by Tim Hortons, Huddle Up just announced 22 in-school assemblies for the month of February, leading the way in bullying initiatives through a multi-component program that involves student empowerment and powerful testimonials by an Argos player. For 2012, Argos players including Matt Black, Tristan Black, Cory Boyd, Mike Bradwell, Andre Durie, Joe Eppele, Ricky Foley, Sammy Tranks and Jordan Younger are participating in the Huddle Up program.
The program, in its 11th year, is customized for each school to address the specific issues faced by each student body, ranging from physical intimidation to cyber-bullying. The focus is guided by the Huddle Up Student Committee at each of the 41 participating schools, made up of identified bullies, victims and popular students. These students are empowered to positively impact their school environment by enhancing awareness on the issue of bullying in their school community before, during and after the Toronto Argonauts presentation.
The Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Program uses the personal stories of Toronto Argonauts football players to encourage friendship and inclusion, and reduce or eradicate bullying. In 2012, the Huddle Up program will reach over 35,000 students, and 700 of their parents, with an impactful message that was developed in conjunction with the Canadian Safe School Network. Over the last decade, Huddle Up has reached close to 300,000 students across the G.T.A. ranging in age from 8-18. In 2009, the Huddle Up program became recognized on the Ministry of Education’s Registry of Bullying Prevention Programs. The Argonauts are the only Canadian sports team to have a program registered.
Here is a list of Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Program school visits until the end of February. More assemblies are scheduled in the months to come.
DATE: Wednesday, February 1
TIME: 1:00 p.m.
SCHOOL: Our Lady of Peace Catholic School
ADDRESS: 391 River Glen Blvd
Oakville, Ontario
PLAYER: Mike Bradwell
DATE: Friday, February 3
TIME: 9:00 a.m.
SCHOOL: Sir Ernest MacMillan Sr. Public School
ADDRESS: 149 Huntsmill Blvd
Scarborough, Ontario
PLAYER: Sammy Tranks
DATE: Friday, February 3
TIME: 2:00 p.m.
SCHOOL: Rockcliffe Middle School
ADDRESS: 400 Rockcliffe Blvd
Toronto, Ontario
PLAYER: Sammy Tranks
DATE: Tuesday, February 7
TIME: 9:15 a.m.
SCHOOL: St. Dominic Catholic School
ADDRESS: 515 Hartsdale Ave
Mississauga, Ontario
PLAYER: Tristan Black
DATE: Wednesday, February 8
TIMES: 9:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.
SCHOOL: Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Elementary School
ADDRESS: 2222 Country Club Drive
Burlington, Ontario
PLAYER: Joe Eppele
DATE: Friday, February 10
TIME: 1:30 p.m.
SCHOOL: Walter Scott Public School
ADDRESS: 500 Major Mackenzie Drive East
Richmond Hill, Ontario
PLAYER: Mike Bradwell
DATE: Monday, February 13
TIME: 10:00 a.m.
SCHOOL: Sandalwood Heights Secondary School
ADDRESS: 2671 Sandalwood Parkway East
Brampton, Ontario
PLAYER: Jordan Younger
DATE: Tuesday, February 14
TIMES: 8:30 a.m. and 9:45 a.m.
SCHOOL: Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School
ADDRESS: 4555 Tomken Road
Mississauga, Ontario
PLAYER: Cory Boyd
DATE: Wednesday February 15
TIMES: 9:10 a.m. and 10:20 a.m.
SCHOOL: Huron Heights Secondary School
ADDRESS: 40 Huron Heights Drive
Newmarket, Ontario
PLAYER: Joe Eppele
DATE: Friday, February 17
TIME: 9:15 a.m.
SCHOOL: &nb
sp; Castlebridge Public School
ADDRESS: 2801 Castlebridge Drive
Mississauga, Ontario
PLAYER: Sammy Tranks
DATE: Tuesday, February 21
TIME: 8:30 a.m.
SCHOOL: St. Andrew’s College
ADDRESS: 15800 Yonge Street
Aurora, Ontario
PLAYER: Jordan Younger
DATE: Wednesday, February 22
TIME: 10:30 a.m.
SCHOOL: East York Collegiate Institute
ADDRESS: 650 Cosburn Ave
Toronto, Ontario
PLAYER: Jordan Younger
DATE: Friday, February 24
TIME: 9:30 a.m.
SCHOOL: McCrimmon Middle School
ADDRESS: 83 McCrimmon Drive
Brampton, Ontario
PLAYER: Tristan Black
DATE: Monday, February 27
TIME: 8:45 a.m.
SCHOOL: Weston Collegiate Institute
ADDRESS: 100 Pine Street
Toronto, Ontario
PLAYER: Cory Boyd
DATE: Tuesday, February 28
TIMES: 9:15 a.m. and 10:10 a.m.
SCHOOL: Gulfstream Public School
ADDRESS: 20 Gulfstream Road
Toronto, Ontario
PLAYER: Matt Black
DATE: Wednesday, February 29
TIMES: 12:45 p.m. and 1:55 p.m.
SCHOOL: McBride Avenue Public School “Pink Day”
ADDRESS: 974 McBride Avenue
Mississauga, Ontario
PLAYER: Joe Eppele