As a component of our Character Education Program taught by Ms. Chhabra at Bond Academy, a representative from the National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) visited the Grade 6-8 students at Bond on November 21st to discuss the harmful effects that pressures on appearance and body-based bullying can have.

It is said that one in seven Canadian teens, and 40% of 11 and 12 year olds, are teased about their appearance, making body-based bullying the most common form of bullying in today’s schools. That’s why NEDIC created accessible, creative, and interactive workshops for children and youth, to introduce the ways in which culture and media can contribute to perceived physical ideals, and the effects on students' health, happiness and self-image.

Through group activities, discussion, icebreakers and with audio-visual tools, the friendly and knowledgeable presenters helped unpack these ideas and help our students build strategies for nurturing healthy self-esteem in themselves and others while celebrating our natural physical diversity.