OTF and Le Centre ontarien de prévention des agressions have worked together to build a multi-faceted bullying prevention program designed to benefit teachers and their fellow school staff members, along with parents, school communities, and, most of all, students. One of the aims of the program is to bring about systemic change for teachers, students, and the education system overall. Safe@School is funded entirely by the Ontario Ministry of Education.

Bullying prevention creates safe school climates. Preventing bullying, however, requires a concerted, multi-pronged approach. Principals, vice-principals, teachers, support staff, parents and guardians and students need to work together to create a healthy school environment.

This website offers useful training components designed to assist teachers in dealing with bullying: http://www.safeatschool.ca/.

The second phase of the project, Change Our World, addresses the issues of equity and inclusion in schools; specifically, racism, homophobia and gender-based violence. OTF hopes to engage teachers, school support personnel and students from grades 7 to 12 across the province by inviting them to share their stories about racism, homophobia and gender-based violence through words, music or images. The deadline for submissions is June 20, 2009. Further details about Change Our World are available at www.changeourworld.ca.