Geoffrey – 16 – Calgary
Geoffrey sits on the Calgary Board of Education’s Chief Superintendent Student Advisory Council. His passion to make life easier for other students has drawn him to working on this council. As a victim of bullying, he sees the need to create resources to help others in their schooling years. This council, along with his other number of committees, allows him to share his message to thousands of children and youth. Geoffrey plans to take his experience from this committee to set up a program and campaign, along with his fellow panel members, to present to the Superintendent in Calgary. The plan is to distribute to 104,000 students in the Calgary Board of Education.

Cathy – 22 – Grand Cache
Cathy has been involved with the Prevention of Bullying Youth Committee for the past 5 years. She is a manager at ATB Financial and is a member of her local Rotary Club where she is working on several projects to make her community and world a better place. Cathy experienced bullying all throughout school. Through her involvement with the committee, Cathy is learning different skills to help her deal with bullying issues. She doesn’t want anyone else to experience what she went through, so she is doing her part to make her community a better place for children and youth.

Erica – 17 – Pincher Creek
Erica is in Grade 11, and her favorite class is drama. She is a vegetarian because of her compassionate love for all living things. She decided to join the committee because of being bullied throughout elementary school and junior high.

Kevin – 16 – Calgary
Kevin has been bullied for most of his childhood. He has felt that his voice was never heard, but feels that this committee is the voice that he was looking for. Kevin has an interest in aviation, and his goal is to study aeronautics and become a pilot for WestJet. He believes that he was selected for this group because God has given him a second chance at life and that he needs to take full advantage of it. Kevin’s wish is to make bullying stop in Alberta before he has children of his own one day whom will begin school.

Willow – 18 – Ponoka
Willow strongly believes that everyone's voice is important, no matter where you live or where you were born. She also believes in helping and contributing to her community. She is vice-president of her student council, is very active in her school and is involved with the Central Alberta Youth Advisory Panel. Willow’s career plan is to be a hairstylist. Relating to people in a personal way during hair appointments is very rewarding for her. She believes that bullying can stop, through ongoing determination and a belief that each person is capable of goodness.

Tegan – 19 – Lethbridge
Tegan is a nursing student, and has a passion in life is helping people. She joined the committee because she was both the bully and a victim of bullying in elementary and junior high. These experiences have shaped her belief that educating people about bullying can help make it stop. Tegan believes that every person deserves to live in a bully-free world.

Zeeyaan – 16 – Calgary
Zeeyaan has a passion for helping her community and learning from the people around her. As a high school student, she has seen a variety of issues that affect youth, including bullying. Despite this, she is optimistic that one day her city, province, country and world will be free of conflict. Zeeyaan is a leader in her community – dedicated to representing and giving a voice to others who have been silenced. She is a member of the Mayor’s Youth Council and is involved with a variety of other projects that benefit youth. She would like to continue dedicating herself to making the world a better place for others. Zeeyaan is inspired by peace and believes that one day our efforts will result in a positive change.

Emily – 16 – Calgary
Emily is in her first year of high school. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing piano and volunteering. She also loves children and aspires to be a child psychologist – helping people is a very important thing in her life. Emily believes everyone should be treated equally and that one needs to get to know another person and not make assumptions or judgments based on appearance. She sees the youth committee as a great opportunity to help people across Alberta.

Karly  – 18 – Camrose
Karly is in Grade 12 and is the leader of her student-run group called ‘Be the Change’. This group creates awareness of various topics and issues affecting youth through presentations about the effects of hazing, relationship abuse, body image and drunk driving. During her spare time, Karly plays basketball and enjoys cross-country running, track and field, and road races. Her favourite subject in school is biology, and she plans to further her studies in university. She has a strong passion for kids and she wants to make a difference in their lives. Karly believes she was selected for this panel because of her passion for helping others and diverse range of talents and experiences from acting in films to working on cars in mechanics class.

Erika – 16 – Airdrie
Erika is in Grade 10. She experienced bullying from her peers in elementary and junior high. They singled her out as being ‘different’ because of her hearing impairment. Erika has learned that standing up for herself and having confidence helps stop bullying. She has been involved in Youth Bowling Canada for 13 years and played community soccer for 12 years. Erika has been involved in her school’s leadership team for the past two years, and this summer she is going to Japan with her school’s exchange program. Erika would like to make a difference in people’s lives, but believes that one person cannot stop bullying as a group has a stronger influence in people to make the change. As someone who was bullied most of her school life, Erika is very passionate about creating positive change. 

Kiran – 17 – Chestermere
Kiran is in junior high and has been a victim of relentless bullying. Because of her negative experiences with bullying, Kiran has a tremendous passion to help those who are also being victimized. She hopes to enter the Bachelor of Health Sciences program and become a pulmonologist (respiratory and lung disease specialist). Kiran is extremely motivated to help create change and improve the lives of those who are being bullied. Her ultimate goal on the committee is to make a positive influence on peers who are suffering from bullying or insecurity.

Steven – 18 – Grimshaw
Steven is a Grade 11 student. When asked the question: “what is your passion?” he said ‘being myself.’ He loves helping people and meeting people who care. Steven believes he was selected for this panel because he is not afraid to be himself and he tries to show that in every aspect of his life. He loves to display his enthusiastic personality in everything he does - something as simple as walking with a little strut or even taking a big idea and making it even bigger!

Austen – 17 – Drayton Valley
Austen graduated from high school in June 2011. His passion and mission is sharing his story of overcoming bullying after a motocross injury, and giving tips to others about how to prevent and cope with bullying. Austen has spoken to more than 6,400 students and done 58 presentations about his experience. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) and sits on the Anti-Bullying Coalition for the Town of Drayton Valley. His goal ever since he started public speaking, is to help one person at-a-time through the emotional maze of being a target, victim, or bully.

Hannah  – 20 – Edmonton
Hannah loves making a difference for youth across Alberta. She has been very involved with the North East Alberta Youth Network in Fort McMurray. Hannah enjoys her role on the committee, seeing it as a great opportunity to create awareness of bullying and help others who are affected.

Call the Bullying Helpline 1-888-456-2323 toll-free in Alberta, anytime. Trained staff are available to help in more than 170 languages.