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Marjorie Raymond is seen in this undated image.  These photos of Marjorie Raymond were taken from Facebook. (Nov. 30, 2011) Marjorie Raymond is seen in this undated image.

Bullying prompted Quebec teen's suicide, mom says

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CTV News Video

CTV National News: Deep damages of bullying
The Ontario government introduced tough new legislation to crack down on bullying, while in neighbouring Quebec a 15-year-old girl ended her life due to harassment. Omar Sachedina reports.
CTV Montreal: Suicide note said 'I'm sorry mom'
A 15-year-old girl in Eastern Quebec has become the latest victim of schoolyard bullying. Paul Karwatsky reports.
CTV Montreal: Fight against bullying
Marjorie Raymond's suicide is raising questions about what more can be done to fight bullying in schools. The Quebec government says it already has programs in place, but there's room for improvement. Maya Johnson reports.

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Marjorie Raymond is seen in this undated image.  These photos of Marjorie Raymond were taken from Facebook. (Nov. 30, 2011) Marjorie Raymond is seen in this undated image.

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Marjorie Raymond is seen in this undated image.

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Date: Wed. Nov. 30 2011 10:05 PM ET

The suicide of a 15-year-old Quebec girl who was persistently bullied should serve as a wake-up call for education officials and parents everywhere, the girl's mother says.

Marjorie Raymond killed herself on Monday, after telling her family that she had been tormented by classmates at her high school.

The teen said that the bullying began on her first day at Gabrielle-Le-Courtois high school, located in the eastern Quebec town of Gaspe.

"People need to wake up. There are more teenagers out there. How many people need to be victims?" asked mother Chantal Larose on Wednesday.

But Larose told CTV Montreal that she had only recently discovered that her daughter was being bullied, referring to Marjorie as the type of person who bottled up their feelings.

When she discovered the bullying, Larose contacted school administrators, but said aside from a few suspensions, nothing else was done. So when the situation didn't improve, the teen finally expressed that she was afraid of other students in her classes.

Based on her daughter's fears, Larose said the family promised to pull the teen out of the high school and place her in a technical adult institution. However, Marjorie would have to wait until her 16th birthday for the change.

But it appears that Marjorie couldn't wait a year to escape her tormenters, and she told her mother "I can't go to class, I can't concentrate."

In a suicide note, Marjorie said her actions were caused by "the jealous people in this world who only want to destroy happiness."

She went on to write a heartfelt apology to her young brother, sister and parents.

"You are the best mother in the world," Marjorie wrote. "I'll now be your guardian angel in a better place."

Grief councillors have been dispatched to Marjorie's high school to help students come to terms with the loss.

Yet even after her death, Marjorie continued to be subject of bullying attacks.

A Facebook page mocking the teen's death surfaced on Wednesday. One user posted a picture of a bloodied young woman slumped against a wall. As well, the webpage's main photo is a cartoon depicting a man hanging himself.

While Marjorie's bullies had reportedly tormented her for more than a year, the head of the local school board said that he was never given details about the case.

The young girl's death comes during a year that's seen a rash of bullying-related suicides in Canada and beyond.

Residents in an Ottawa community are still reeling from the death of 15-year-old Jamie Hubley, an openly-gay teen who killed himself in October after being relentlessly teased and assaulted by classmates.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty introduced new legislation Wednesday allowing schools to expel students for bullying.

While it's not yet clear if he intends to take a similarly hard line, Quebec Premier Jean Charest condemned bullying on Wednesday and offered his condolences to Marjorie's family.

"These issues are often difficult issues and we'll look at whatever we can do that could be more effective," he said.

Parti-Quebecois leader Pauline Marois has called for the Ministry of Education's anti-bullying programs to be re-evaluated.

Youth councillor Cheryl-Lynn Roberts said that some victims have nowhere to hide, especially given the popularity of Facebook and Twitter among teens.

"Not just by physically getting bullied, but cyber-bullying is rampant. (Teens) are discouraged. They don't know what to do."

And while some school officials have stiffened punishments for bullies, an education expert said suspensions are only part of the answer.

"There's been kind of reactive response, generally, to either suspend the student of expel them, but (with) very little follow-up," said Shaheen Shariff, an educational expert at McGill University.

She said a longer-term approach and more monitoring is needed to ensure that punishment makes a difference.

With a report from CTV Montreal's Paul Karwatsky

Comments are now closed for this story

nahid
said

I have a 2 year old son, and it breaks my heart to read these stories and listen to the news about these beautiful children taking their lives because of the aweful kids who are insecure and pathetic. It usually is the kids who are not very intelligent and need to put the other kids down because they don't have any of their own abilities, or strengths. Schools need to stop being so lazy and take action by noticing what is going on, and reporting the students at hand, and have the kicked out. THE PARENTS NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE as well, and there should be legal action put on these kids. i'm sickened by the fact the government is taking so long to coe with some action to protect our wonderful children who have such love and zest for life. i'm so sad for the parent's who are suffering. my heart goes out to all the mothers, fathers, and siblings..


@getreal
said

Are you kidding? You don't have a clue. I had the snot kicked out of me on more than one occasion by a guy 2 years older than me (a big gap in high school) simply because I was big and I didn't fight back. Sure he called me names. Yes, I ignored him, even tried to run away. Didn't work for long. What started off as taunting escalated quickly to being held down and kicked, punched in the back of the head, put into a head lock, arms twisted behind my back. That started in 1979, my first year of high school. By 1982 I had enough, got desperate enough and turned the tables on my tormentor, for which I was suspended for 1 week. He got several appointments with a dentist and got to sip soup through a straw for a month. Name calling isn't bullying. Bullying is much different; it's physical. Someone putting their hands on you when you don't want them too. It's someone controlling you and inflicting pain. Bullying is evil. It's torture. You obviously have no experience with bullying judging by your "blame the victim"mentality. I remember the things some bastard did to me 30 years ago like it was yesterday. When I got the upper hand I swore I would never again let somebody do that to me or anyone I cared about ever again. I take bullying seriously and I would never blame the victim or their family. Shame on you for doing that.


KJ in Kingston Ontario
said

So often it is the thoughtful sensitive intelligent students who get tormented by bullying -- the thoughtless stupid jerks don't care. So sad -- a terrible waste.


Jim
said

BULLING HAS TO STOP!!!I was the victim of bullying when I was in school and it was so hard for me. Over 20 years later it still affects me. We all need to learn to get along with each other and stop the bullying. We can't afford to loose anymore youth to suicide.


Family Therapist
said

You have no idea what you're talking about with the "sticks and stones" and the "names." Bullying is SO not about that. Parents cannot "teach" children how to cope with the violence, assaults, threats of violence, constant terrorizing, shaming, humiliating, etc. that goes on in schools under the umbrella of "bullying." There is no place to escape it, even online. It's not about parents and victims. It's about people teaching their kids NOT TO BULLY ANYONE.


Kojak
said

Speak up. Take a stand. Learn to protect yourself. You can be a survivor, or you can be a victim. A lot of us are survivors of childhood cruelty. It's unfortunate this young woman took her life, but there is help out there, ask for it. Be it parents, teachers, police, friends, even a total stranger if you need help bad enough.


Shaggy
said

I hope that the police take this serious, investigate and bring the idiots responsible for her suicide to justice. This has to stop!


Kari
said

I homeschool my youngest (age 10) due to incessant bullying. There needs to be VERY stiff penalties for bullying..


shawbrooke
said

The public is responsible to pressure all education systems to change their policies and to act to nab the bullies. Plus all systems must provide alternate education options available from Grade 7 on, such as internet classes. Specifically responsible are the bullies, who should go to jail and never be allowed in a high school again. They can get their GED when they graduate. The cops need to get on this now. And as for the school officials whom the parents called, and who did not expel anyone, they need to face discipline from their profession, such as suspensions from work without pay.


getreal
said

Maybe the mother should have taught her daughter how to cope with life's problems. Sticks and Stones will break your bones but names will never hurt you. Start teaching that to kids again and this won't happen.


JayDee
said

Maybe it is time, the "Golden Rule" is taught again in our schools. Since these Bully's are not held accountable, this will never end, and violence in retaliation is not the answer. There really is no REAL consequences for their actions. Maybe it would not hurt if the parents were held accountable for their kids actions, however I believe most parents are not involved in their kids lives to know what they are doing, when & where either. Parents are too busy with their own lives to guide their children to responsible Adult-Hood; and then wonder how their kids turned out the way they are. GO FIGURE on that one!!Parents: Teach your children (& practice it Yourself), Tolerance and Acceptance of Others, whatever their status or situation, Stop and appreciate the Blessings you have received and pass it on to others.


seriously?
said

@William: funny how you blame everyone but the bullies, huh? I'm guessing someone was/is still a bully...Are children today soulless or something?? It's terrible enough they tormented her to the point she no longer wanted to live, but the fact that they're mocking her death takes it to a whole new level. I have no sympathy for people that are that mercilessly cruel, I sincerely hope they get whats coming to them one day.


ToriMay
said

A parent is the greatest teacher.Children learn to be victims or bullies from an early age.


Gunther
said

We've gone through the bullying with our own daughter and to date she is doing better at a new school but it has changed our life tremendously. Everyday I fear the worst. The stress is sometimes unbearable. Also the school did nothing. Absolutley nothing and these stupid I will not bully promises are a waste of time. Punish those responsible.


Jake
said

McGinty's new law will do nothing for past victims of bullying who have no recourse to sue in the courts because of limitation period laws, and it won't help those who are bullied and don't fall into the "protected groups" categories of sexual orientation, race and gender.It won't protect victims who are "nerds," "arty," "too short," "too fat," "too pretty," "can't afford an Iphone and name brand clothes," "too putsy/unathletic" etc. It is a major fail.


William
said

@ Role of the media - "We all are responsible"... NO we are NOT all responsible. 1st and foremost is the girl herself as it was her decisions to take her life. 2nd, the school needs to take some responsibility for failing to take the bullying more seriously. 3rd Her parents should have been perhaps more sensitive to how conflicted she was feeling. As for role models I do not lead my kids to the TV box to look for role models nor to movies nor the internet. All those places are pipelines to pump social sewage into your home and much caution needs to be exercised in exposing kids to that junk. Parents need to find the truth for themselves first then communicate it to their children and model it to them and that is who their role models should be.


Every dumb animal understands violence
said

My daughter studies 3 martial arts for this very reason. More than self defense, she is learning self esteem and self discipline. There is only one course of action to take with a bully. No matter what programs provincial governments have in place, no matter what some over paid public servant like a vice principal says, the only way to make a bully stop is to make them bleed. I was bullied in high school until I took my fist and knocked the teeth out of the ring leader and watched his flock of sheep scatter. Unfortunately, this is a fact of life as some kids are very practiced at the Eddy Haskell routine and can turn on the charm. I was gratified that the jerk who bullied me all through high school committed suicide after it dawned on him he was a complete loser. My condolences to this family on their loss.


Rob
said

I can sympathize with this family, My child was bullied for 4 straight years in York region, and do you think the principal of the school would do anything? Well I will tell you that nothing was done, in fact the school administration took the word of the bullies over the victim. My advice is to hire a lawyer, and for all the principals that are guilty of doing nothing you are dispicable. This is a major problem in our schools, and parents have to get together and hold the school administration and the school boards responsible for not protecting our children. I hope this family takes legal action and I also hope that this never happens to anyones child.


Rev in VC
said

I was bullied all through my elementary and early high school years. I'm glad there wasn't any sort of social media or internet at the time because I'm sure it would have been even worse. People tell you to stick through it because it gets better. Sure my life is better because I studied hard and got good grades and a good job, but guess what, those days still come back and haunt me and they make me furious from time to time when I remember, and I know I'm not as good a person as I could be with this always hanging there. The bullies mostly left me alone for the last couple years of high school because I started taking martial arts classes, and not the silly olympic kata-centric stuff, the actual military limb breaking variety, and they knew I would relish in the chance to break a joint if they pushed me around again. Some of you, like Mervin think its the parent's fault for not talking. Well I've talked to my parents about it and they talked to the school and guess what, that just intensified the bullying. So from one guy who's experienced it to an armchair philosopher, if you don't know what you're talking about don't bother posting. Bullying sticks with you throughout your life whether you want it to or not, it still hurts after all these years and it really torques me to see stories like this.


Rev in VC
said

After what happened with Phoebe Prince you'd think people would learn. But no, nothing will ever happen so long as these little pukes keep getting away with this crap. Prison time, or house arrest, anything that would produce a sense of PUNISHMENT for bulllying needs to be done. Unfortunately because Canada's justice system caters to offenders and punishes victims, I doubt if anything will ever happen and this story will end up dusted under the rug in a month or two as usual.


Steve J.
said

You can't have it both ways. If you want wimpy sentences, ankle bracelets, and constant probation orders, then accept that people will be victimized, haunted, and tormented. No real consequence equals continued problems. Those lefties that cry out every time someone mentions tougher sentences have themselves to blame.


Tracey
said

My daughter was bullied, I had to transfer her to another school. It is absolutely ridiculous that the bullies can get away with is, beause they have a right to an education. My duaghther was called names, hit, tripped in the hallways and threatened. It didn't stop until her older sister found out and threatened the bullies.


RT
said

I can barely stop spitting nails long enough to type this comment. This beautiful little girl stated it perfectly when she said jealous people were out to destroy her happiness. Females and their jealousy towards girls and women they know are prettier, smarter and better are the way females destroy their competition. I am almost 40 years old and still deal with these vipers daily where they bind together to terrorize me, at the coffee shop, at work , when I was in school, on the bus ... it never stops. Now with the height of self-absorption and narcissism in this culture even the plain or fat chicks demand to be super models and bully pretty girls. Girls are a menace to other girls and it's a crime. Those ugly little sociopaths who bullied this lovely girl to death, need to be charged with manslaughter and thrown in jail and let their inmates get at them.The school, teachers and administrators need to be held legally accountable as well. And parents, save your children. When you suspect bullying, get your child to safety until the apathetic folks in schools remove the psycho's out to destroy your child.


Kevin
said

I was bullied for a while. All it took was to break one persons nose (a tooth came out as well). and it all stops instantly. I was suspended for a week. Came back and it was like starting all over with respect.


Art
said

I was always the smallest kid in my school (even in grade 11, I was smaller than the smallest grade 7 student) and was subjected to daily bullying. I had learned in elementary school that it was better to fight back and lose because at least the most cowardly of the bullies would leave me alone for fear of losing a fight to the pipsqueak. It resolved itself finally when I was beat badly by some guy trying to impress a girl (most bullying is not only accepted by peers but actively encouraged). That same afternoon, the biggest bully in the school gave this latest tormentor the biggest beating of his life and nobody ever touched me again (including the aforementioned "biggest bully" who used to pick on me every day). Said "biggest bully" actually went from being a bully to being a hero in the eyes of most of the school and thereafter passively enforced "his" no bullying school policy. I've heard of recent cases where a group of "facilitators" have visited school and performed simulation with groups of students in order to have the students themselves reflect on the negative consequences of bullying on both the victims and the bullies. This approach might just work, in my case, it just tool some "convincing" to stop the bullying across the entire school but I don't think that punishing the bully works (never did with me) but rather changing the mindset of the bystanders who either turned a blind-eye or actively encouraged the bullying.


mike
said

Its really too bad. A few years older, she would have had the capacity to fight back and actually probably become more sucessfull and happy than the bullies ever would be. For anyone out there who is targeted, from someone who was bullied sometimes, it gets way better as you get older.


Heather
said

Rest in peace you sweet angel. As tears stream down my face I can only apologize that we as a society have failed you. To your family, my most heartfelt condolences in your loss.


Brenda
said

I must say I was lucky that there were not any bullies at my school. But it was 30 years ago and any bully would get expelled from school right away, no questions asked,and would have to go into "special" school for troubled kids.


geebee
said

The time has long since passed when school administrators, teachers and board of education members are held legally accountable for such a sad outcome not only in this case but others.The consistent story of little being done will only stop when there is successful litigation. Then and only then will the paid observers who talk the talk will be forced to walk the walk.


Horrified Mom
said

These bullies should be charged. Assault is assault. Uttering threats, seems to me that is a criminal offence as well. Marjories' parents should have the right to charge these bullies with wrongfull death. These kids have to learn that there are consequences that go with their actions. Put the little beggers in prison, make them repeat the year at school, prevent them from attending university/college. SOMETHING!


Lou Lange
said

My heart goes out to the family of this young girl. It is sad that the school chose not to take strong action to find and punish those who bullied this girl. Let us hope this is a wake up call for ALL SCHOOLS WORLDWIDE to deal with this issue and prevent needless deaths.


Wally
said

Bullying is an ugly fact of society . Remember it begins with adults from overbearing parents to chauvinism and all the bigotry we are exposed to at early ages !


Melissa
said

I went to my daughter’s school when she was being harassed and her grades were falling. The principle informed me that they have a number of anti-bullying campaigns and that the problem was with my child who had to adjust more to her grade because she wasn't as mature as the other kids. I was shocked at her response. I pulled my kid out of that school and she is now an honour student though an online school. She is involved in a number of activities and she sees her friends every day after school. Since leaving that place she has become a new girl, happy and full of life again. I am against the modern school environment because it seems to be more harmful than beneficial these days. By the way, this was a principle featured in Parenting Magazine as one of the top 25 in the country.


Alex in Canada
said

I was a victim of really bad bullying because i was the fattest kid in school all my young life. When i was 11 or 12 my mom had to call the cops because i was bloodied after school by 6 guys. Next day when the cops came to my school, they interrogated the 6 kids before me and by the time it was my turn, they had this idea the bullying was my fault because the kids said i did not wanna be their friend.... So in turn the teachers, the police did nothing at all, it never stopped. So much for trying to end bullying. Here is how you stop it. As a parent, you teach your kids to fight, and defend and hurt the bullies, and then when your kid gets in trouble for hurting the bully, be proud of your kid and stand up for him because the school and the police dont give a crap. Also, about the guy who said he broke some guy's knee..... Good job. I personally broke his nose with a baseball bat, got thrown out of school and earned respect for it. If my baseball bat woulda killed the kid, so be it..... It is killed or be killed!


Role of Media
said

It is a tragedy. We all are responsible. The bullying has become norm in our society. Some sick people need to humiliate others to feel happy. Our media, music and film industry have their share of responsibility. The violent and porn charged content of our movies and TV shows does not help the issue. Our youths rely on these images to find their social model. It is sad.


Aliza
said

My condolences to the family on such a horrible loss-- a young girl who had everything to live for, had she been able to see a way/reason hang in there. It sounds like her parents tried to be there for her, but for some reason it didn't work. Suspensions don't solve the problem, since kids can still bully. In fact, in some situations they can make it worse. There are some really effective programs that some schools run that teach resilience to the kids who may be picked on (so they cope... or don't get picked on at all), and teach bystanders how to intervene to stop the bullying, and also help the would-be bullies. I hope the school implements those! It's too late for Marjorie, but will help other kids. And, with all this focus on the victims-- attention also needs to be given to the bullies. They are more likely to drop out, end up in a life of drugs, crime, etc, so preventing bullying helps both victim and perpetrator live productively and happier.


RiverviewNB
said

What are the grief councillors for? To console the bullies so they dont feel bad about contributing to someones death. Of course, let the bullies understand that it wasn't their fault so they can move on to the next victim.


Moose
said

Get rid of suspensions for fighting. Nothing stops a bully like the knowledge of knowing they are going to get smacked. You don't have to be a good fighter by any means and a bully will leave you alone. When I was a kid a new kid joined our class and started to harass me. One day he pushed me against a wall so I punched him in the jaw once and he walked away. Now we are the best of friends. Even if he beat me up I would still bet that he would think twice before bothering me again.


Anne
said

What an utter trajedy. There is a real sickness at the root of society and it is time attention was paid. There is a deep cruelty undermining the development of young people starting a very early age - where is this coming from and how can it be stopped. Posting vile images relating to this girl's suicide is a prime example of how sick things have become.


Scott - Calgary
said

From one bullied person to you, my heart and prayers go out. There is no excuse in the world to condone bullying... It is a part of life, and we must all deal with it, kids, teens, adults, everyone... I was bullied all through High School, and no one did a thing to stop it. My teachers said to "Deal with it" so I did. I broke the guys leg and shattered his Kneecap after Gym one day. I do not regret it at all, but it should have never come to that. I have my own daughter now, starting Kindergarten this year scared me. But, I know I have taught her right from wrong, and to stand up for herself, but also to be able to ask for help. I hope that she does, when she needs it.My prayers go to the family and friends in Gaspe, where my family is from too. It is a small community with good morals and values, we just need to get back to them.


JD
said

I was bullied as a teenager and only now at 26 am I understanding and dealing with the affects it has caused. It's psychological torture. I truly don't have answers as to what will stop bullying. But for anyone that is being bullied I can promise them that it will get better and more often than not the bully is jealous or threatened because they see your worth and know that worth is lacking in themself.


L - Ottawa
said

Can the schools call the police and instill a little fear in these bullies? Maybe if you get caught bullying you should have some kind of age appropriate punishment - like taking tour of a community jail or going to a suicide support group at one of the hospitals. I think it's time we actually taught the children bullying the real consequences, instead of just tapping them on the hand and saying don't do it again. I would like to see tougher punishment - after all we are talking about abuse.


Suicide is a bad choice
said

Quebec has the highest number of suicides of any jurisdiction in North America. Suicide is falsely looked on as an avenue of escape while ignoring the spiritual consequences which can result. I don't necessarily make the connection between bullying and suicide any more than ones financial straights are responsible for suicide or a failed marriage and suicide. It's a personal choice people make and a poor one with no possibility of ever experiencing the other options in life. The circumstances which lead up to that kind of choice isn't necessarily the cause as opposed to the excuse to advance a set of understandings built on many misunderstandings.


the real story
said

joanne from barrie is completly correct when it comes to school boards and the Ministry of Education being paper tigers in reguards to bullying in our schools.. I know first hand because I am a teacher here in Waterloo, Ont. We just completed an anti-bullying week and it was all talk and "feel good" stories coming from the board and the Min of Ed. NOTHING is done in our schools that take bullying seriously. The rules are that all students, no matter what they do in the walls of school, cannot be removed from the system till they are 18. We have seen students bully other students in front of us, hit other students, carry a weapon to school, verbally abuse teachers as well as cause vandalism , and many, many cases of cyber-bullying because Facebook is open on all computers at our school board and NOTHING happens except a 3 day suspension. The Ministry Of Education wants to tout that enrollment is up and kids are staying in school longer...that is beacuse we have to keep them here regaurdless of their marks, attitude, attendance and any of the issues I have just wrote about. You can try to pressure your MPP to start taking things more seriously at school's because the many deaths of these young people do not have an effect on anybody in the administration. How many more have to die before we try to do something about this epidemic of our youth?


Frank Buchan
said

To Mervin: Blaming the victim is hardly helpful, and neither is blaming the parents. Suicidal kids get that way because of two factors: internal stressors, and external ones. The internal ones are often hard to see, and harder to treat; and as a society the external ones are getting harder to treat, because we have an entrenched mindset that defies common sense: "Kids today have it good, they need to toughen up." That is the worst line of BS of all time, because it presupposes that the happiness of kids is tied to objects rather than experiences. Yes, parents have some hand in the solution, but exactly where is their power against the systemic bullying that costs lives? It's idiotic to think that "take it into your own hands" is wise, given the laws today. Good luck disciplining or even asserting a fact to another person's child.The tragedy here is that this trend will continue, where we allow the most sensitive people (often great thinkers, creatively and otherwise) to be destroyed by a tolerance of behaviours that are disgusting in every way.


Jenn
said

Schools do absolutely nothing about bullying! My own nephew has been bullied and come home with bruises and the school has done nothing! Then when he finally defends himself and hits back he gets the letter home threatening suspension?? Bullys' who physically/verbally abuse other children should be charged by police! End of story! and the parents as well! When I was a kid if a kid bullied you your older siblings or cousins took care of the matter, it's amazing how bully's are scared of people who are bigger than them...bring back the strap! Instead of all this constant "talking, and talking" kids should have more respect for school, and if they don't guess what? You're expelled to remedial school with all the other losers who can't follow the rules, better yet military school for bullys' :)


TheOtherLowellInBC
said

Can also relate to bullying. Being a skinny geeky kid with wierd glasses in school, I was the brunt of teasing, practical jokes and with one particular student, being punched. That usually happend in my back when I was least expecting it. I remember one time it was so severe I had to see a chiropractor to fix it. I did evenutally make it through school and move into adulthood. I cannot say that it left an indelible mark on me but I do remember it and I can commiserate with those who are experiencing it now.


Annie
said

The real problem is that many forms of bullying are hard to prove. Unless there is concrete evidence (emails, tweets, posts etc.) mean comments in passing or on a playground, unless observed by someone, can be easily denied by the offender. I would hope that kids don't lie about the victims of bullying, how can you suspend or expel someone based on the word of one individua and that what school must struggle with (furthermore, what if the alleged bully is a model student and the victim is a "troublemaker"). Please do not take any of this to mean that I condone bullying or think that it's not very real and horrible thing. Parents and schools can do everything right and bullying will persist. It is too easy to get away with it.


Observer
said

How utterly disturbing that a facebook page was put up mocking the death of this girl. How unfortunate that something like that wouldn't fall under the category of hate speech so that the sociopaths responsible for it could be held accountable. Very scary that these kids, so entirely void of basic human decency, roam the streets invisible to the rest of us!


Fedup Parent
said

My child has been a victim in a serious case involving multiple classrooms and dozens of kids. Police have been called, and a restorative justice team. The policies of the boards do not go far enough. The kids are bored and roll their eyes when bullying is mentioned. When you call it what it is, assault and criminal harrassment, they pay more attention. Showing them the true, real life consequences to them, their families and the victim and their family is the way to go. These events happened the week after anti-bullying week. Obviously no one listened. I thank God that after all this the school is listening and working to resolve the true issues.


Kim
said

My heartfelt sympathies to the family. My daughter was also bullies in school, during kindergarten and half way through grade one, by much older boys. She feared for her life. The police investigation called it extrememe bullying. The school officials did nothing. We brought our daughter home to learn. The good that came out of it all. It is so very sad that children need to suffer. Schools and jails are two peas in a pod.


Anonymous
said

We have a disable child. She was a victim of abuse. We complained numerous times. After having them turn a situation around- blame her and then make her apologize- we went in united. to speak to the Vice Principal & Principal. We were given excuses such as "Let's face it, neither are angels." (we had always known of this & tried to work with them) & "we didn't want to set him back" etc.. Finally, a year later, facts came out and another child spoke out on her bus. They stories of his bullying and seeking her out to pick on came out. As well, other students then spoke out. Plus, it came out that his sister had sent threatening texts to one student after they told him to leave her alone-- a year later!! Sadly, it took us finally losing our "cool" before this happened. Ironically, a year after all of this, I myself encountered merciless bullying/harassment at my workplace. Despite confronting the person (who was in a position of authority -- and still is), it was denied. Various employees admitted to witnessing it and were/are too afraid to say a thing. This "Supervisor" had caused numerous people to leave the particular workplace, including myself. And, despite writing the issue in my resignation letter, writing the "Board"-- nothing has been done. Bullying is not just in schools. It is very prevelent in the workplace. But, few are willing to expose it. They simply choose to walk away. And coworkers are afraid to help.


Kato
said

Bullies tend to have low self-esteem. They can only build themselves up by stepping on others who they perceive as weak.The best response to a bully is to stand up to them even if it means getting beat up. Do it enough times and the bully will go find someone else easier to bully.Kids who bullied to the extreme respond in one of two ways: passive or aggressive. I do not condone the silent passive response as that can lead to suicide. I do not condone the aggressive approach either as that can lead to a Columbine result. I'm just saying that kids who are bullied should assert themselves and say I will not be bullied.


You got to fight your own battles
said

When i was in Jr high i was picked on cuz i was in the 1hr class for A.D.D. I told my mom&dad and my father told me in short order to level the kid next time he opened his yap. I knocked out that kid one punch and guess what NO ONE every picked on me again not cuz i was good at fighting, rather i stood up for myself and once you do that "bullying" and the bully will stay away from you. Most of them are big wimps and talk a good game. STAND UP FOR YOURSELF AND MOM&DAD STAND BEHIND THEM 100%.


Marilyn
said

I was bullied as a kid and its not picnic, but schools today take it for granted and really do not do anything to stop it. Maybe a little time in jail might do the trick. This young girl in Quebec was very pretty and maybe her bullers were jealous of her. This has to stop and the school administrators need to step up to the plate and take responsibllity for what has happened, their just like the justice system, they give them a tap on the wrist and that's it. Clean up your act, you bulliers because maybe one day it will happen to you.


Frank Silva
said

Society as a whole is to blame for the suicides of these young people. Turn your TV on and see what is considered as 'entertainment'... voyeuristic, demeaning, degrading reality TV that glorifies this behaviour. Put that together with parents forced to work two and three jobs just to make ends meet and what are you left with? Children who raise themselves and the TV as their role model. No wonder our youth have no compassion or courtesy for their fellow man. My condolences to the family of this young woman and all families who have to deal with the same tragedy. It's such a waste.


Lyse
said

It is said that "It takes a village to raise a child." Consequently we ALL need to support and participate in political, legal and any efforts to eradicate this dispicable behaviour. Bullies should be exposed and held accountable for their actions. They need to be tought that this behaviour is not tolerated in civilized society. Our hearts and prayers are being offered to this young woman who suffered at the hands of bullies. The world has lost another bright young shining light. Rest in peace sweet angel.


ted
said

Teens are so stupid and greatly influenced by the media and songs they listen to. We need to start educating our children at an early age to show them what is wrong and we need to get rid of things like facebook, twitter, television and so forth. The electronic age is far surpassing our teens mental capabilities. Time to curb it a bit. So needless this girls death....so wrong.


Mervin
said

There's more to this story than is being told here. This is sad, but where was the parent support? Talk to you kids, there are ways to deal with situations like this. Take things into your own hands, and be there for the kid!!!!! Suicidal kids are always looking for sympathy/attention. You know it, but just won't say it.


can relate
said

My condolences to the family. It's disgusting how bullying can cause so many deaths, but I can relate. I was bullied all through the end of elementary, all through intermediate, and most of my high school days. I lived through it, but it was horrible, I cried, and I contemplated suicide. I had rocks thrown at me, was beaten up, a girl got off at my bus stop to beat me up after school, I had gum put in my hair, and I was teased endlessly about my voice, my glasses, and anything else bullies could think of. There needs to be an end put to bullying. It's up to parents to teach their kids respect of others. Nobody deserves bullying. Nobody.


Bruce from Alberta
said

People gain self worth in running down others. It's a fact of life. It happens from the time your born until you die. There will always be people that look for faults in others.We also live in a society where we're taught violence solves nothing with is 100% wrong, a stern talkin to solves nothing. But we don't want to give a spanking or the strap to a bully or problem child because it might hurt his mental health, so instead we will allow him to make countless other peoples lives miserable and possibly drive someone else to suicide.


Joanne from Barrie
said

@Lisa, Im not sure where you received your information regarding the Premier cracking down on bullying. I live in a small town, and the bullying that goes on there is inexcuseable. A close friend of our family's son is bullied on a daily basis, by girls no doubt. When the parents contact the school, the board and even the superintendant, nothing is done, because, they are girls after all. I dont know what ever happened to the "hands off" rule, but that school in Innisfil Ontario is right the hell out of line. I just cant wait till my youngest son is out of school all together. Chidren should never, ever be afraid to go to school. And when the administration of the schools do nothing about it, where do we turn? All I can say, in my years on this earth, girls are the most vicious, cold and manipulative bullies out there. I guess my sons school didnt receive the memo from the Premier.....!


Deon
said

I am so sorry for the family. No parent should ever have to deal with this sort of heartache. When will our society wake up and see that this is a very real problem?! There is a lot of talk about how bullying is wrong, and yet it is a huge problem in our school system. When beautiful young women like this are taking their lives because of bullying, it needs to be taken as a wake up call.It's not a matter of "boys being boys" when they are punching and hitting and physically abusing other boys. It's not a matter of "girls will be girls" when they are belittling, calling names and tormenting other girls. This is a very serious problem and the school systems and parents both need to stand up, take notice and do something constructive about it. We, as a "civilized" society should be teaching our children better than this. Again, my sincerest sypmathies go out to the parents of this beautiful young woman. My hope is that maybe, just maybe something positive will come from this tragedy. Honestly, how many more children need to die, to take their own lives before something is actually done?


northern girl
said

Feel for the family. Ontario is suppose to be harder on bullying but from my experience with my son, it never happens like that. The schools always make excuses. I had to deal with the school board and lawyers to have my voice heard and my sons safety guaranteed. Parents need to be held responsible for their childrens actions as they learn from them!


what about bob
said

I know you'll find the peace where you are now than when you were here on earth. May those who bullied you find eternal torment for having a hand in your death. Rest in peace darling!


paul D.
said

I feel so sad for what has happen. Being teased my self as a youngster wasn't the greatest feeling. My heart goes out to the family....if only this could have been prevented somehow....this is a shame. I feel sick about it. Parents, please be aware of what's going on with their children at school....it could be a result of life or death.


Salt and Vinegar
said

She was a pretty young girl. It is too bad that the school decided her life was insignificant. Where does the school stand today on their decision on bullying?


crjdriver
said

when will us as society take responsibility for all the BS that we allow to go on, perhaps we are all to blame for tragedies such as this.


Phil Ottawa
said

@J The fact that some (but it's really not at all a majority imo) of the bullies are children of bullies makes your own suggestion useless. These types of adults agree with the behavior and are models for their kids(who doesn't look up to their parents at young age). But bullies also stem from families where kids are neglected (cry out for attention) or overly smothered (way to rebel). There's a lot of causes, and it's no different then any other psyhological disorder. It's a disease and it should be treated as such, but aggressively and without compromise.


Rosie
said

People automatically blame the schools. There is only so much they can do when PARENTS sit there and say "How dare you say that my little Johnny (or Suzie) would do that, they're not like that at home..." (First hand experience!!)


Sens/Habs Fan - Ottawa
said

Just so sad to see a young life gone over such things as bullying. Here in Ottawa the "Do It For Darin" has made quite an impact on more awareness of bullying and getting it out there that more has to be done day in and day out as this is an ongoing situation. It's up to everyone to speak up and speak out.....and get this Stopped in it's tracks....


Prof. Pye Chartt
said

While, indeed, bullying is a serious problem, and one that is intensifying in its personal impact with the unique power of the internet and social media, the armchair sociologist in me wonders what role today's busy, self-absorbed, and "disconnected" parents are playing, especially in the cases of suicide -- an extremely dramatic, tragic, and devastating conclusion to a chronic predicament and ongoing personal problem. (Note: Not knowing specific details and circumstances, I am not making any statement or judgment about any particular parents.) Just an open question about a possible contributing factor.


Jane
said

Condolences to the family. This is an unnecessary tragedy. Bullying is not new and has been going on for decades/centuries. It all starts at home in negative families where family members and children are not taught to respect others. Those who are bullies are only looking for attention And unfortunately others will join in to become a part of the 'in' crowd. How sad!


One Canadian
said

This has to stop, I have a daughter and hearing this terrifies me, to think that nobody can help this child. I was a teenager once and was bullied and felt that my life was always in danger, but I realized that my life does'int end with High School. When I graduated all those bullies and mean kids ended up having a terrible life, getting involved in drugs, prostitution, or simply jobless because they can't work with others. However I overcame and reminded myself that I became stronger and wiser then those bullies in school. - It's a shame nobody could of told that to Chantal, maybe she would have been here with us today. - The goverment needs to make our schools safe from bullying, have sit in's with counsellors and more harsh punishments to bullies, like expelling them to the point that their parents have to home school them, let them deal with them.


J
said

I agree that we have to keep an eye on our children, but how about loving them and teaching them from an early age that bullying is wrong. In my experience bullies are the children of bullies.


Robert Biss
said

This is disgusting, The school should be broughtup on their failure to assist.


Dave T
said

RIP Young lady i can only hope with all the awareness being brought to Bullying that by the time my sine makes it to 15 he won't consider that an option. I feel for the family i can't imagine loosing a child.Please people let your children know there is other options that they can talk to you no matter what and keep your eyes on them no matter how bust life gets....


Ken in Ottawa
said

My condolonsences to the family.


Big Bear
said

My deepest condolences to the family on their loss. Those who were involved in the bullying should be held accountable. They should be charged and thrown in jail for what they did to this girl. This was not suicide, it was murder.


Lisa
said

How utterly tragic. A life snuffed out because of bullying. I hope Quebec and the rest of the world follow Dalton McGunity's lead and make bullying an offence that leads to expulsion.


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