Learning how to build and maintain healthy relationships is key to an individual’s health and well-being. This includes learning about the effects and the prevention of all types of violence and bullying/harassment and developing skills for healthy relationships, including an understanding of consent and demonstrating respect for others.
Helping students develop an understanding that healthy relationships are based on respect, mutual caring, empathy, and trust and do not include or condone harassment or other abusive, controlling, violent behaviours, promotes a culture of respect and reduces incidences of gender-based violence.
This resource was developed for use by educators to support their students’ understanding of consent and behaviours that constitute gender-based violence, and their ability to identify gender-based violence in their classrooms, schools, and communities. It makes the connection between gender-based violence prevention and topics in The Ontario Curriculum, Health and Physical Education Grades 1–8 (2019) and The Ontario Curriculum, Health and Physical Education, Grades 9–12 (2015), including: consent, healthy relationships, relationship violence, harassment, gender-based and identity- based bullying, communication skills, and social emotional learning skills.
Ophea recognizes the following partners whose work was integral to this resource:
Julie S. Lalonde
Ophea acknowledges the work of gender-based violence prevention educator Julie S. Lalonde. Julie is an internationally recognized women’s rights advocate and public educator. A franco-ontarienne originally from Northern Ontario, she is based in Ottawa. Julie works with various feminist organizations dedicated to ending gender-based violence, engaging bystanders, and building communities of support. In 2011, she created Draw the Line, a province-wide campaign to engage bystanders in ending gender-based violence. Julie has won numerous awards for her work including the Governor General’s Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case.
Content in this resource draws heavily on Julie’s work. Julie travels across Canada and internationally delivering trainings to elementary and secondary students, educators, and professionals from many sectors including law, politics, and medicine. She provided guidance and feedback throughout the development of this resource. Follow Julie on Twitter at @JulieSLalonde or visit her website, www.yellowmanteau.com.
Draw the Line
Draw the Line is an interactive campaign that aims to engage Ontarians in a dialogue about gender-based violence. The campaign challenges common myths about gender-based violence and equips bystanders with information on how to intervene safely and effectively.
It is our hope that Draw the Line will educate Ontarians on how to spot gender-based violence and empower them to make a difference.
Draw the Line is managed by Action ontarienne contre la violence faite aux femmes (AOcVF) and Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC).
Learn more about Draw the Line at www.draw-the-line.ca.
