To view this information in a PDF format, please click here. 

 

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have provided the following Fast Facts update for the month of March. This information is for parents, educators and those that work with youth.

 

RCMPTalks – Reconciliation

LAST CALL – Seeking interest from classrooms across the country to participate in the March 29, 2022, RCMPTalks session on Reconciliation, presented in English. This initiative aims to educate youth, give them a sense of empowerment, and encourage them to get engaged in their schools and in their communities.

To obtain more information or register please contact: [email protected]

Online Safety Seminar

NYS is inviting Grades 6-8 classrooms to participate in a 90-minute online safety seminar presented in English, delivered by The White Hatter on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at 10:30 AM.

For more information or to register, please contact us at [email protected] with contact details of interested schools and classrooms.

Virtual Educational Resources

  • Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) has created a one-page poster that provides information about accessing virtual care for substance use and mental health during COVID-19. It highlights the importance of seeking mental health and substance use care early, and provides a list of virtual care options that are available to offer support.
    • Additionally, CCSA has created an infographic consisting of facts, tips, and resources to help Canadians cope with stress, anxiety, and substance use during COVID-19. Topics include the signs and symptoms of anxiety or stress, coping mechanisms and includes advice on monitoring substance use in times of stress and reducing harms.
  • MediaSmarts has created a Co-Co’s Adversmarts: An Interactive Unit on Food Marketing on the Web. This interactive unit is designed to help kids between the ages of 5 and 8 recognize the marketing techniques used on commercial websites that target children.
    • Additionally, MediaSmarts has created a Responding to Online Hate guide to assist law enforcement personnel, community groups and educators in recognizing and countering hateful content on the Internet – especially as it pertains to youth.
  • Wellness Together Canada (WTC) has created a free PocketWell app, available on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Users can access new resources, including a self-assessment tool and tracker that monitors mood and mental well-being.
  • The Glenn Gould Foundation has launched Instrumental, a website for youth created to showcase the mental health benefits of engaging with music. The website is designed to provide educational content and self-care tools vetted by mental health professionals.
  • The Rick Hansen Foundation has created a We Are Like Snowflakes lesson plan for grades K-3. Students will learn about the science of snowflakes and learn that each snowflake is unique, just like people.

Grants

  • The Vimy Foundation is offering a new education program, Vimy Inspires Tomorrow. Youth ages 13 to 17 can apply lessons from history to create transformative community projects for a chance to earn a $1,500.00 project grant. Deadline to apply is March 31, 2022.

Training

  • Safer Schools Together (SST) is offering a Responding to Racism and Targeted Hate training session on March 3, 2022. This training will provide insight on how to reach out to youth to help create feelings of being valued and respected. This session provides participants with a deeper understanding on how to create a positive learning environment for all youth.
    • Additionally, SST is offering a Ensuring Safe & Caring School Communities training session on March 30, 2022. This training provides participants with a deeper understanding of how to create, measure, and evaluate school connectedness.

In The News

  • Cypertip.ca, Canada’s tipline for reporting the online sexual exploitation of children, is seeing an alarming trend in reports from youth who have had their Snapchat accounts hacked and had their intimate images or videos shared on social media platforms.
  • Health Canada reports, children have been hospitalized after accidentally eating illicit “copycat” cannabis edibles made to look like popular candy and snack foods.
  • A new report from the Tech Transparency Project found Instagram’s algorithms recommend drug dealers’ accounts to minor users. The report also found the platform suggests drug-related hashtags.
  • A recent report, issued by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation, found impaired charges have increased in many municipalities.

Research

  • Youth participate in online challenges and hoaxes for views and to impress peers, a TikTok report finds. This report looks into how big of a problem dangerous and online challenges and hoaxes are, what drives youth to participate in them, the information youth need in order to stay safe, and how adults can talk to youth about them.

Support Services

  • Kids Help Phone – 1-800-668-6868
    • Indigenous Help – 1-855-554-4325
    • Text – 686868
  • Talk4Healing – 1-855-554-4325
  • Black Youth Helpline – 1-833-294-8650
  • Hope For Wellness Line – 1-855-242-3310 or use their chat function
  • Sexual Assault Txt Line – Text HOME to 741741