National anti-bullying organization becomes registered charity

A national anti-bullying organization co-founded by a former Woodstock resident has recently became a registered charity.

Bullying Canada was co-founded by Rob Frenette, originally of Bathurst and now living in Fredericton. Rob is a graduate of NBCC Woodstock's journalism program.

Rob Frenette

Rob's inspiration for his work in such an important cause came from being a victim of bullying throughout his childhood. Though all of us are victims of some sort of bullying at some time or another, few of us choose to rebel against such a growing problem later on in life. Rob has worked to declare December 17th Blue Day, and encourages everyone to wear blue on December 17th in support of anti-bullying.

Established in 2006 by Rob Frenette and Katie Neu, Bullying Canada is the first youth-created anti-bullying website in Canada. The site's aim is to inform, help, and provide support for anyone involved in bullying. Visit http://www.bullyingcanada.ca . Bullying Canada is also on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/BullyingCanada . Bullying Canada offers toll-free telephone support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 1.877.352.4497. You can also contact Bullying Canada via email. info@bullyingcanada.ca 

The majority of hard work does not go unnoticed. Rob's hard work with anti-bullying causes is no exception. Rob is among ten 2011 recipients of the Order of New Brunswick. The following article about Rob's recognition to the Order of New Brunswick was on the Government of New Brunswick's website. http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/corporate/promo/order_of_new_brunswick/2011_recipients.html#4

"As an anti-bullying and anti-discrimination advocate, Rob Frenette has first-hand experience of how devastating bullying can be to a person. He experienced bullying throughout school, from Kindergarten to High School because he was different as a person living with Cerebral Palsy.  

Rather than retaliating against the years of bullying, he decided to speak out against it. He first drew national attention as a Grade 9 student at Bathurst High School for his activism, which continued throughout High School and into his studies at the New Brunswick Community College. 

In 2006, Mr. Frenette co-founded Bullying Canada.ca, as the first youth-created anti-bullying website in Canada. This website helps youth throughout Canada to deal with bullying and provides information and counselling through the site and its 24-hour toll-free helpline to thousands of young Canadians. Rob currently serves as one of its executive directors of this national charity. 

Closer to home, he worked with the former government and opposition to have December 17 declared Anti-bullying Day in New Brunswick and organized an anti-bullying summit last year in Fredericton, where more than 100 participants discussed the issue of bullying and how best to eliminate it. 

Mr. Frenette continues to work on anti-bullying initiatives in our province as well as lending his expertise and insight to other organizations in New Brunswick and throughout Canada.

Rob Frenette is receiving the Order of New Brunswick for his tireless devotion to and passionate commitment to ending the spectre of bullying for the youth of our province and all across Canada."

As a registered charity, Bullying Canada can now issue tax receipts for any donations.