POST-GAME Package POST-GAME LETTER
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POST-GAME package POST-GAME LETTER THANK YOU March 23, 2020 On Behalf of the Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club, We would like to give a big THANK YOU to all of the schools that participated in the 2020 TELUS BE BRAVE End Bullying Game with the Calgary Hitmen. On Thursday, February 27th, 2020 the Calgary Hitmen welcomed over 12,000 students, teachers and chaperones to the Scotiabank Saddledome to celebrate Pink Shirt Week. We were thrilled to host another amazing experience for students this year, all gathering under one roof, to spread the message of acceptance, learning about bullying prevention, and how to rise above bullying! This year, we were given a great opportunity to present the students with the #EndBullying Viking Clap presented by TELUS Wise. This was led by Calgary Stampeders Alumnus and TELUS Wise Ambassador for the Stamp of a Champ program Rob Cote. This allowed the students to come together as one prior to the start of the game to celebrate the purpose of the TELUS BE BRAVE End Bullying Game and why we continue to host it each year. Following the Viking Clap, Randy Chevrier; City of Calgary firefighter, three-time Grey Cup Champion and Dare to Care ambassador, explained the difference between conflict and bullying in order to educate students on how to notice the differences and how to help each other out when situations arise. Thereafter, we had two inspirational guest speakers presented by A1 Chesney; 2020 Calgary Stampede Queen Kelcey Moore and 2018 Olympic Silver Medalist and first Indigenous hockey player to be named to Canada’s National Women’s Team, Brigette Lacquette. Each shared their story of how they were able to rise up and conquer their dreams after years of challenges, from bullying to social acceptance, and how they continue to face these battles with a positive attitude. POST-GAME LETTER Other additions to the TELUS BE BRAVE Ending Bullying Game were the changes we made to the concourse activations; the BE BRAVE Passport and the BE BRAVE Wall. Students were encouraged to visit each activation booth in order to get a stamp on their passport. This passport and concourse map came in the Welcome Package given to schools prior to the game date. Once the passport was completed, students were encouraged to visit the BE BRAVE Wall to write on a post-it note to tell us what they knew about bullying prevention and what their promise was to each other and themselves to help End Bullying. Other concourse activations from our partners included; TELUS #Endbullying, Dare to Care, Distress Centre/ConnecTeen, and Siksika N7 youth group. Each year we work hard to make it something special for students to be able experience. With over 60 new schools coming to the event this year, we understand the impact this game has on the students. Therefore, we have created this post-game package with links and resource guides to the in-game videos, our guest speakers, and help lines associated with bullying prevention and acceptance. From new to returning schools, your dedication to spreading awareness to this cause has made it so rewarding for us to be able to put on this event for the students each year. The Calgary Hitmen would like to thank you once again for all of your continued support! Sincerely, The Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club Staff WORDS FROM THE PARTNERS The Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club “Now finishing its fourth season, TELUS BE BRAVE has become one of our signature games and a movement in our community,” commented Hitmen Vice President and Alternate Governor Mike Moore. “Every student in attendance wore a pink shirt in a show of solidarity against bullying while all schools receive resources to equip students with tools to help #EndBullying. This is an amazing experience that we are proud to share with all the students, our players and everyone who has the opportunity to be at or involved in the event.” TELUS Wise “In today’s all-connected world, being a good sport online is as important as being a good sport on the ice. To help #EndBullying and promote strong digital literacy, TELUS Wise offers free resources and workshops for Canadian youth and their parents, some even designed specifically for the hockey community,” said Nimtaz Kanji, Director of TELUS Wise. “Partnering with the Hitmen to host the TELUS BE BRAVE #EndBullying Game allows us to educate thousands of Calgary youth on the power of acceptance and kindness in both physical and online worlds.” TELUS #EndBullyIng VIkIng Clap Presented by TELUS Wise, the #EndBullying Viking Clap was led by Calgary Stampeders Alumnus and TELUS Wise Ambassador for the Stamp of a Champ program Rob Cote. The Viking Clap kick started the TELUS BE BRAVE Ending Bullying Game by watching an introduction video in partnership with Hockey Canada, and then gathered all the students together to begin the #EndBullying Viking Clap which got all the students excited for what the rest of the day would bring. CLICK HERE FOR THE HOCKEY CANADA/TELUS VIDEO CLICK HERE FOR THE TELUS #ENDBULLYING VIKING CLAP Click the following link to listen to part of the Canadian National Anthem sang out loud by the students in attendance as the TELUS #EndBullying flag makes its way around a portion of the Scotiabank Saddledome. CLICK HERE CONFLICT VS BULLYING GUEST SPEAKER RANDY CHEVRIER Randy Chevrier, is a City of Calgary firefighter and substitute teacher who spent 16 seasons playing professional football in the CFL and NFL and holds three Grey Cup Championship titles. While playing for the Calgary Stampeders, Randy created a successful anti-bullying campaign called ‘Tackle Bullying’, which delivers the message that everyone is responsible in curbing the problem of bullying in schools, teams, workplaces and at home. In recent years, Randy has partnered with Dare to Care and now spreads this message in middle and junior High Schools across Canada. Randy Chevrier explains in the videos below the difference between conflict and bullying in order to educate students on how to notice the differences and how to help each other out when situations arise. CLICK HERE TO WATCH RANDY CHEVRIER CHAT ABOUT CONFLICT VS BULLYING CLICK HERE TO WATCH RANDY CHEVRIER CHAT ABOUT CONFLICT VS BULLYING IN A LIVE INTERVIEW FIRST GUEST SPEAKER GUEST SPEAKER KELCEY MOORE BIOGRAPHY: Kelcey Moore is 22 years old and born and raised in Calgary. Kelcey is a professional dancer and choreographer and has traveled internationally to compete and train in the United States, Austria, France and Italy. She has also performed in a number of music videos and concerts. Through her competitive years she earned many scholarships and awards to different training opportunities and career paths in dance. She recently graduated from the BC School of Equine Therapy as an Equine Sports Therapist and plans to continue her post-secondary education at the University of Calgary in animal studies, veterinary medicine or kinesiology and become a personal trainer. Through Junior High Kelcey was bullied and had counsellors tell her it was just a phase and it would pass. For High school Kelcey decided to switch schools and take the opportunity to pursue dance at a higher level to help with her struggles. She has suffered anxiety and depression for many years stretching into her youth and continues to fight every day to keep it at bay. The anxiety and depression that was increased because of the bullying didn’t stop her from pursuing excellence in her life. Kelcey is a part of the 2020 Calgary Stampede Royal Trio and stepping out of her comfort zone has helped in her confidence and has allowed her to become a voice for mental health. Click the following link to watch Kelcey Moore chat about overcoming her fears on bullying CLICK HERE Click the following link to watch Kelcey Moore chat about overcoming her fears on bullying in a live speech at the game CLICK HERE SECOND GUEST SPEAKER GUEST SPEAKER BRIGETTE LACQUETTE BIOGRAPHY: Brigette Lacquette, is the first Indigenous hockey player to be named to Canada’s National Women’s Team and 2018 Olympic silver medalist. She is a role model for young First Nations athletes, especially girls who play hockey. Brigette won silver and gold at the 2009 and 2010 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championships, helped Canada win gold with the National Women’s Team at the 2013 Four Nations Cup, and captured back-to-back silver medals with Canada at the 2015 and 2016 IIHF Women’s World Championships. The defenceman made her Olympic debut at PyeongChang 2018, helping Canada win the silver medal. Click the following link to watch Brigette Lacquette chat about overcoming her fears on bullying in a live speech at the game CLICK HERE TELUS BE BRAVE DANCE The TELUS BE BRAVE DANCE is something special that the Calgary Hitmen have put together each year since this event has started. In order to bring students together and shed some light to the severity of bullying, we choose and present a song with a powerful message that students can dance and since along to. The song chosen for the 2020 TELUS BE BRAVE DANCE is “This Is Me” from the movie ‘The Greatest Showman’. The meaning of the song is about knowing who you are and standing up for yourself. It is about not allowing other people to let you down and to tell yourself that you are beautiful and you love the way you are and look not matter what anyone has to say. The Calgary Hitmen believe that this song signifies the meaning of TELUS BE BRAVE and why schools gather each year to partake in this event.