By Taylor MacPherson

Riders and Red Cross tackle bullying in northern communities

Jan 17, 2017 | 1:19 PM

The Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Canadian Red Cross teamed up to tackle bullying in the province, and organizers want to spread their program to as many northern communities as possible.

Several current and former Roughriders were on hand to speak at a luncheon held today in Prince Albert, backed by the Northern Lights Casino, P.A. Inn and P.A. Chamber of Commerce.

Luc Mullinder, former Roughrider defensive end and leader of the Imagine No Bullying program, said several specially-trained members of the Roughriders have toured schools in the province to spread the program’s anti-bullying message. Last year, he said, the initiative reached more than 30,000 students.

“Our goal, which we will reach, is to get in front of every student in the province by 2019,” Mullinder said. “Together we will change the culture around bullying.”

Mullinder said the anti-bullying initiatives are specifically targeting northern and remote communities this year.

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“The northern part of our province is going through some adversity right now. We’re out there right now implementing our programming, but there’s so many requests for more of it,” he said.

“Our programming is designed and is built to impact remote communities like that, but we’ve got to get out there,” Mullinder added. “So today is all about asking the communities of P.A. and really Saskatchewan for their help.”

Roughrider fullback Spencer Moore and 2013 Grey Cup Champion Scott McHenry both completed anti-bullying training through the Red Cross and now participate in school and classroom talks to help share the message with Saskatchewan students.

“This program is so special,” McHenry said, adding he is just as passionate about his work with the Red Cross as he ever was about football. “It’s about creating the future leaders of our province.”

McHenry said he visited La Loche last year, and was struck by the enthusiasm of the kids he met. More than 2,600 students received Pink Day t-shirts to signal their decision to stand up against bullying, he said.

“For those kids it was a signal of hope. It was something to smile about,” McHenry said. “Our northern communities need our help.”

Moore said the classroom talks have been well-received in every community he has visited.

“The kids, they love it. I think that we have a really good system in place and a good program that’s been developed for us to spread the right message to the kids,” Moore said. “The kids are receptive because we’re Roughriders – they love that – and then it helps because we have such a good message to get across. They really, really enjoy it.”

Mayor Greg Dionne signed a proclamation into effect declaring Feb. 22 “Pink Day” in the city. Dionne said bullying is a big issue in P.A., and not just for young people.

“People think it’s just directed towards kids,” Dionne said. “It’s not.”

Taylor MacPherson is paNOW’s court reporter and weekend editor. He can be reached at Taylor.MacPherson@jpbg.ca or tweet him @tmacphersonnews