Bullying doesn't take a March Break.
The Brandon Street Community Development Foundation will be branching out from its home near Eglinton Avenue West and Dufferin Street to host an anti-bullying campaign in North York's Centerpoint Mall from March 15 to 19. The daily seminars, collectively named Blow the Whistle on Bullying, will cover everything from cyber-bullying to discrimination in the workplace in an effort to keep the public focused on an issue that affects people of all ages on a daily basis."We know people are aware bullying exists, but we want them to also know it's not OK it ignore or think that it is going away with age," said Amanda Pesklevy, community outreach representative with Brandon Street.Working from the Brandon Street central office in the former city of York, Pesklevy had been in contact with several malls over the last few months in an effort to set up information booths on bullying. The management at Centerpoint Mall, at Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue, liked the campaign so much they offered to hold the week-long event as a fundraiser as well as an educational seminar series.Principals, police officers and representatives from other social organizations will be taking the stage in the courtyard just outside The Bay. A major talking point will be focusing on bullying outside of the school, including adult bullies in the workplace."Bullies grow up to be bigger bullies and it can become an issues when businesses are losing some of their best employees, which is very detrimental to their bottom line," said Pesklevy. "It can also result in people bringing stress home and threatening the foundation of families."Brandon Street has been helping with social issues in its own neighbourhood since 1987, but has more recently been hosting programming in Scarborough and now in North York.The founders of Brandon Street were members of the Toronto Bathurst Lions Club, located on Brandon Avenue in York. Their initial mandate was to help families struggling with finances and property ownership to keep their homes. After three years of success, they began to offer additional social services and mentor local youth, helping them understand how to achieve their goals.Now a registered charity and operating out of 22 Lanark Ave., Brandon Street is hoping for a good turnout for the March Break seminar series.Details and schedules of the events at Centerpoint Mall can be found by contacting the mall or calling Pesklevy at 416-366-1399.