A student wearing a pink shirt. (Photo by the Waterloo Region District School Board)A student wearing a pink shirt. (Photo by the Waterloo Region District School Board)
Sarnia

Officer's concerns about bullying led him to policing

The effects of bullying can last a lifetime, according to Sarnia police Cst. Nelson Amaral.

That was one of the messages the veteran officer delivered to Rosedale Public School students Wednesday afternoon as part of Pink Shirt Day.

"You know in your heart when you or someone is being mean or hurtful towards someone else, because you wouldn't want to be treated that way, so recognize that," said Amaral. "Show some compassion and empathy, and don't engage in that type of behaviour."

Amaral routinely visits schools in the Sarnia area to promote a message of kindness and anti-bullying, as part of the Sarnia Police Service KIDS program (Knowledge, Issues, Decisions, Support).

He also uses a personal story of how standing up to bullies while in high school influenced his decision to become a police officer.

Amaral said he became a target when he first started attending St. Patrick's Catholic High School in 1988, because only the younger grades had to wear school uniforms.

"By grade 10, I still saw that type of behaviour happening, and I saw it with my own friends. So when I witnessed it, I spoke up and told them to knock it off," said Amaral. "So I was asked to see my guidance counsellor, and he had heard of what I was doing in standing up for kids-- he asked me if I had ever considered being a police officer. At that point, I really hadn't. But the rest is history."

Amaral said while bullying is still a problem in schools, he believes the situation is improving.

"I'd like to walk into a school some day and have a principal say 'Nelson, we've gone 100 days without bullying,'" he said. "I do think that because there is such a great awareness to the effects of bullying, and things like Pink Shirt Day where attentions being raised, I do think that attitudes are changing. There's more self-awareness towards it than ever before."

Pink Shirt Day started in 2007 when two Nova Scotia teens encouraged fellow students to wear pink in support of a pupil who was being bullied.

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Fight between Darth Vader and Princess Leia broken up by Constable Nelson Amaral. December 5, 2018. (Photo by the Sarnia Police Service) Cst. Nelson Amaral breaking up a fight between Darth Vader and Princess Leia. December 5, 2018.

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