ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
TORONTO-– While continuing to fulfill a Grey Cup promise to students from the 2012 Huddle Up season, the Toronto Argonauts are excited to announce that the 12th year of bullying prevention in the G.T.A. has already begun! The Argos, through their award winning Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Program, presented by Tim Hortons, have been at the forefront of helping to eradicate bullying in G.T.A. schools for well over a decade. The program leads the way in bullying prevention initiatives through student empowerment and engagement by Argonauts players and staff. Argos players, and 100th Grey Cup champions including Matt Black, Andre Durie, Joe Eppele, Andrew Jones, David Lee, Wayne Smith, Chris Van Zeyl, and Jordan Younger will participate in this year’s Huddle Up program.
The program is customized for each school to address the specific issues faced by each student body, ranging from physical and verbal intimidation to cyber-bullying. The focus is guided by the Huddle Up Student Committee at each of the 40 participating schools, made up of identified bullies, targets 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 program also includes specially designed Parent-Teacher Information Sessions so that parents can learn more about bullying tactics and support their students in overall prevention.
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 2013, the Huddle Up program will again reach more than 35,000 students, and 700 of their parents, with an impactful message that was developed in conjunction with the Canadian Safe School Network. Over more than a 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.
Due to school regulations, media wishing to attend any in-school events must contact the Toronto Argonauts Communications Department in advance.
The start of the 12th Huddle Up year has already seen Student Assemblies and one Parent-Teacher Night at three schools, with five more stops in Barrie, North York and Toronto, before the end of January. Please see the schedule below:
SCHOOL: St. Michael the Archangel Catholic School
DATE: January 24, 2013
TIME(S): 11:30 a.m.
ADDRESS: 349 Big Bay Point Rd.
Barrie, ON
PLAYER: Andrew Jones
SCHOOL: St. John Vianney Catholic School
DATE: January 24, 2013
TIME(S): 1:30 a.m.
ADDRESS: 393 Innisfil St.
Barrie, ON
PLAYER: Andrew Jones
LOCATION: Youth Assisting Youth
DATE: January 29, 2013
TIME(S): 6:00 p.m.
ADDRESS: 888 Lawrence Ave. E.
Toronto, ON
PLAYER: Andre Durie
SCHOOL: Calico Public School
DATE: January 31, 2013
TIME(S): 10:00 a.m.
ADDRESS: 35 Calico Dr.
Toronto, ON
PLAYER: Wayne Smith
SCHOOL: Pineway Public School
DATE: January 31, 2013
TIME(S): 1:00 p.m.
ADDRESS: 110 Pineway Blvd.
Toronto, ON
PLAYER: Wayne Smith
