Family Channel Stands Up To Bullying

Family Channel is ready to challenge bullying behaviour as its 12^th annual Stand UP! campaign launches this week in advance of Bullying Awareness Week. Partnering with Bowmanville, ON natives Eleven Past One on a new anthem and set to visit schools across Canada to see what students do to prevent bullying, Family aims to empower kids to stand up, not stand by, when they see bullying happen. Bullying Awareness Week runs from November 16 to November 23rd.Debuting this week is the campaign’s anthem “I’m Ready (Stand Up Edit)” from Canadian pop-rock band Eleven Past One. Speaking to the support bystanders and friends can offer to victims of bullying, the song aims to create a community environment emphasizing the importance of facing and overcoming the issue together. The audio version of the song is being released exclusively on Family.ca and will be followed by a lyric video coming to the network on Monday, September 15 to assist fans in learning the words to this motivational song.

“It’s important for us to be part of Family’s Stand UP! campaign, especially for me, because I was bullied in high school,” said Daniel Richter, lead singer of Eleven Past One. “I felt alienated and can relate to what some of Family’s audience is experiencing because I’ve been there before. We always want to encourage fans to consider others’ feelings and to stand up for people who are bullied and, when you can, for yourself.”

Knowing the best way to connect with fans is in person, Family is travelling coast-to-coast to bring Stand UP! rallies to four schools across Canada. Featuring Alexandra Beaton and Jennie Pappas from Family’s hit series The Next Step as the rally hosts, the interactive event includes a discussion led by a representative from national research organization PREVNet and a multimedia presentation designed to educate students on how to prevent bullying in their community. Students can enter to win a rally for their school by visiting Family.ca and explaining how they Stand UP! to bullying. The contest runs until 5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 1.

An integral part of the Bullying Awareness Week campaign, Family will stock the network with programming dedicated to spreading the Stand UP! message throughout November. New bullying-themed episodes from top-rated Family series will be accompanied by special messages from musicians and stars depicting their own experiences and offering advice to fans. During Bullying Awareness Week itself, Family will debut exclusive footage from the 2014 Rally Tour.

Those interested in Family’s 12^th annual Stand UP! campaign can visit Family.ca/StandUp to listen to the Stand UP! anthem, learn about bullying prevention and enter for a chance to win a Stand UP! rally. Bilingual resources for students, parents and educators are also available for download, including printable tip sheets and activities from an extensive Teacher’s Guide prepared by PREVNet for Family.

Family Channel co-founded Bullying Awareness Week in 2003 and developed the Stand UP! campaign in association with PREVNet (Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network), a national network of Canadian researchers, community organizations and governments committed to ending bullying and promoting positive relationships.

We have ten weeks until Bullying Awareness Week.  What will you be doing to support this very worthwhile cause?

FT&PD

Suz