Key Note Presenters

Craig attended Columbine High School with his 17-year-old sister, Rachel Joy Scott. He was in the school's library minutes before the rampage began and there was no way for him to escape what was destined to be the worst school shooting in U.S. history. While Craig escaped alive, his sister Rachel did not. Craig keeps the memory of Rachel alive through presentations around the world and on many national television programs.

"I don't believe being picked on is a reason to kill someone, because everyone has been picked on at one point or another. But I do believe it's possible that if more compassionate students stepped out of their way to show kindness and acceptance to the shooters, maybe Columbine wouldn't have happened."

Debra Pepler is arguably the "Dean" of bullying and victimization research in Canada and renowned the world over for her work in this, and other areas of anti social behaviour. She is a professor at York University's LaMarsh Centre for Research on Violence and Conflict Resolution She is also a professor of psychology in the Faculty of Health and a psychologist at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Dr. Pepler is a co-founder and co-director of "Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network" (PREVNet), which works to promote safe and healthy relationships for Canadian children and youth. Dr. Pepler is committed to developing both National and International networks to advance anti-bullying and victimization research.

Michele Borba, Ed.D., is an internationally renowned educator and award-winning author who is recognized for her practical, solution-based strategies to strengthen children's behaviour, self-esteem, character, and social development, and to build strong families. A sought-after motivational speaker, she has presented workshops and keynote addresses throughout North American, Europe, Asia and the South Pacific and has served as an educational consultant to hundreds of schools, and organizations. Her proposal: "Ending School Violence and Student Bullying" (SB1667) was signed into California law in 2002. Dr. Borba is the author of 21 books and the recipient of many awards.

Helen Cowie is Director of the Observatory for the Promotion of Non-Violence in the United Kingdom. She is a research professor in the European Institute of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Surrey and also Co-coordinator of Violence in Schools Training Action (VISTA). She has published many books and papers on peer relationships and support, bullying in schools and in the workplace and the mental health of children and young people. Dr. Cowie is President of the Suffolk Peer Support and Mentoring Network.

Anthony D. Pellegrini is Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Minnesota and author of "The Role of Recess in Children's Development and Education" and other titles. He is an expert in the area of child play and interaction. His extensive 20 page biography lists children's peer relations, social contextual influences on classroom achievement, and children's social behavior and dominance as key interests. Dr. Pellegrini will speak about the prevention of bullying and victimization in the middle years.

Dr. Wolfe holds the inaugural RBC Chair in Children's Mental Health at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). He is a Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology at the University of Toronto and Director of the CAMH Centre for Prevention Science. He and his colleagues are currently evaluating the "Fourth R", which is a comprehensive school-based initiative for reducing adolescent violence and related risk behaviors through the promotion of positive, non-violent relationships. His books include "Adolescent Risk Behaviors: Why Teens Experiment and Strategies to Keep Them Safe" (with P. Jaffe & C. Crooks) and "Child Abuse: Implications for Child Development and Psychopathology" (with E. Mash).

Dr. Totten has authored over 25 books, academic articles and government reports on youth issues, including "Guys, Gangs and Girlfriend Abuse" (2000) and "When Children Kill: A Social - Psychological Study on Youth Homicide" (with K. Kelly, 2002), published by Broadview Press. Currently, he works with groups across Canada on evidence-based practices in the areas of Restorative Justice, Male-Responsive and Female-Responsive Youth Justice Interventions, Gangs, Extreme Youth Violence, and Gender Identity. Mark has worked with high-risk children, youth and families in a variety of therapeutic, community and correctional settings for three decades. The title of his address is: Unwrapping Masculinity: Showing Boys How to Be a Man Differently.

Dr. Daniels is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Coordinator of the Child Studies Programme at Carleton University. Her research interests focus on social aggression in girls and the dynamics of girl's social relationships especially amongst close friends. She is a member of two Canada-wide research networks, the Canadian Initiative for the Prevention of Bullying and the Network for Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence. Her goal is to promote safe and healthy relationships for all Canadian children and youth. She is Chair of the Ottawa Anti-Bullying Coalition, a group of community members committed to reducing bullying in the City of Ottawa and surrounding areas. Each year she gives many talks and workshops to children, teachers and parents.

Dr. Shariff is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec. Her appointment is in leadership, policy studies and education law, informed by human rights, legal pluralism, tort law and constitutional law. She is Principal Investigator on two grants funded by Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada to develop a profile of cyber-bullying, inform the current policy vacuum, and develop guidelines to help schools address cyber-bullying. She has published numerous journal articles and book chapters on cyber-bullying, and is also writing two books on this topic: Cyber-bullying: Issues and Solutions for the School, the Classroom, and the Home (Routledge, UK); and Cyber-bullying: What Schools Need to Know to Control Misconduct and Avoid Legal Consequences (Cambridge University Press). Dr. Shariff has presented nationally and internationally on Cyber-Safety and has also contributed to a roundtable consultation on violence against children organized by the United Nations Secretary General in June, 2005. Her work on cyber-bullying has drawn significant public and media interest, placing her among Canada's top 20 most frequently interviewed and quoted experts according to a recent media relations survey.

Cathy Wing is an internationally recognized expert in the area of children's use of the Internet. She is Director of Education for the Media Awareness Network (MNet), Canada's leading media education organization. Cathy oversees the development of MNet's educational resources and is the coordinator of the ongoing national research project, Young Canadians in a Wired World, that tracks the Internet habits of Canadian students.

Hetty is an internationally recognized educator and author and an inspiring and passionate presenter. She is the author of several books and countless educational materials. Her accomplishments are the subject of a National Film Board of Canada documentary film entitled "Teaching Peace in a Time of War". Hetty's contributions to peace education have been honoured with a number of awards, including a Baha'i Commendation for promoting racial harmony, the Nova Scotia Principal of Distinction Award, the Queen's Jubilee Medal and the 2006 Special Recognition Award from the Canadian Teachers' Federation. Hetty holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in education from Mount Saint Vincent University (where she is also a part-time faculty member). In 2005, Hetty was awarded a Doctorate in Civil Law from Saint Mary's University.

"...every line on her face tells a story"
Eva Olsson has shared her incredible story, her journey of survival in Nazi "killing factories" with thousands of enraptured audiences of students and adults. This remarkable 82 year old woman devotes her life to sharing the tale of her childhood and adolescence at the hands of Nazi "bullies". She speaks of tolerance, compassion and hauntingly of the role of the bystander..."There are no innocent by-standers".

Michael C. Chettleburgh is one of Canada's foremost authorities on youth gangs. He is a distinguished researcher, writer and consultant specializing in criminal Justice Issues. In 2002, he conceived of and was research director for the 2002 Canadian Police Survey on Youth Gangs, the first ever national study of youth gangs conducted on behalf of the Department of Public Safety and Community Preparedness Canada. A highly engaging and pull-no-punches speaker, Michael has spoken at several international conferences and featured on Global Television, the National Post, CBC Radio, CTV Newsnet and the CTV News with Lloyd Robertson. His new book, "Young Thugs: Inside the Dangerous World of Canadian Street Gangs" will be published by HarperCollins on April 28, 2007. The book creates both an intimate insiders' portrait and a touchstone guide that will act as a wake-up call for Canadians. Michael will address issues relating to bullying and gang membership.