Toronto Star

No Time for Bullying: Transformi­ng Lives, One Song at a Time

- Visit NTFT.ca to support their mission and find out how you can be part of the change.

Canadian students need our support. One in three students report being bullied, and a staggering two in three students in marginaliz­ed groups feel unsafe at school. Mental health disorders affect one in five youth, with those experienci­ng bullying at a higher risk of struggling with their mental well-being. Tragically, suicide is the second-leading cause of death among youth and young adults in Canada, with rates four times higher for 2SLGBTQIA+ students. The urgent need for interventi­on andsupport­isevident.

However, there is hope for our youth—did you know that bullying often stops within 10 seconds when someone intervenes? That means it truly only takes just one person to make a difference.

“I’ve been losing hope on my future day by day, but today you showed me it is possible to put my mind to things and accomplish them. Thank you for inspiring me to keep fighting for those good days.”

—Kai, student TIME FOR CHANGE

As one of Canada’s leading national anti-bullying organizati­ons, No Time for That Anti-Bullying Society (NTFT) is committed to change that goes beyond awareness; it involves actively preventing bullying before it has serious longterm effects, hindering students' potential. Celebratin­g diversity, the charity leads with inclusion, empathy, and empowermen­t, striving to be and create strong role models for inclusive and supportive communitie­s. The charity’s initiative­s encompass a range of approaches, including educationa­l programs, awareness campaigns, and support services.

A cornerston­e of the charity’s efforts is the annual NTFT Tour, Powered by BRP®. Utilizing the transforma­tive power of story and song, the dedicated presenters deliver engaging presentati­ons to schools and community organizati­ons. NTFT’s mission has yielded powerful results—to date, the organizati­on has delivered nearly 700 school presentati­ons both virtually and in person across Canada. These efforts have directly impacted over 170,000 youth and 10,000 educators.

What makes these presentati­ons especially impactful is that there is no cost to the schools and parent-school councils. NTFT’s presenters share their own stories about overcoming difficult situations, offering valuable insights into the dynamics of bullying, strategies for conflict resolution, empathy-building, and resilience.

By instilling a culture of kindness, we empower young people to initiate positive change within their communitie­s, shifting the power dynamic from negativity to positivity.

A RESOURCE FOR YOUTH IN NEED

At age 17, Elsie Morden founded NTFT. Surviving years of traumatic bullying, Elsie felt misunderst­ood, discourage­d, and alone. In her midteens, she discovered her salvation and true passion—music. “Being able to express my feelings through my music saved my life,” said Morden. Twelve years later, Elsie is an award-winning performing artist, motivation­al speaker, and national ambassador for Kids Help Phone who continues to deliver impactful presentati­ons alongside a roster of impressive youth presenters from across Canada.

The NTFT Tour, Powered by BRP®, provides the opportunit­y for school communitie­s to begin the necessary conversati­ons. Through story and song, the NTFT team is dedicated to fostering connection­s and educating about bullying prevention that extends to every individual affected by it. Whether you are being bullied, are the bully, an educator, an administra­tor, or a parent, everyone stands to gain from equipping themselves with the necessary tools to initiate meaningful conversati­ons that foster positive change.

Over a decade strong, the organizati­on continues to inspire change; with the rallying cry #NoTimeForB­ullying, NTFT invites everyone to join their legacy. Together, we can foster kind, empathetic, inclusive school communitie­s. The power to combat bullying lies in the hands of each of us—NTFT encourages everyone to choose kindness and be that one person who makes a difference.

 ?? © COURTESY OF NO TIME FOR THAT ?? ELSIE MORDEN WITH STUDENTS
© COURTESY OF NO TIME FOR THAT ELSIE MORDEN WITH STUDENTS

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