Skip over navigation
Donate Today

media

Kids Help Phone and Bell Invite Families to Join the Sixth Annual Bell Walk for Kids Help Phone

Kids Help Phone and Bell Invite Families to Join the Sixth Annual Bell Walk for Kids Help Phone

New Kids Help Phone study on cyber bullying underlines urgency of fundraising for this year’s Walk

Toronto, Ontario, April 18, 2007 – Kids Help Phone and Bell Canada today kicked off the sixth annual Bell Walk for Kids Help Phone campaign to raise much-needed funds to meet the growing demand for the charity’s phone and web counselling services.

The Bell Walk for Kids Help Phone will take place on Sunday, May 6 in more than 50 communities from coast to coast and will feature concerts by established Canadian recording artists David Usher, Jully Black, Dany Bédar, Antoine Gratton, Jeremy Fisher, Aaron Lines, In Essence, Souljah Fyah and Rob James; and up-and-coming singers Chad Doucette, Kati Durst and Sarah Loverock.

The Bell Walk for Kids Help Phone is the largest national fundraising event dedicated to Kids Help Phone. The goal for this year’s event is $3 million, up from $2.7 million raised in 2006.

“Kids Help Phone, needs our support to ensure that the organization is there to respond to the growing number of kids seeking professional counselling and advice by phone or online,” said Kevin Crull, President, Residential Services, Bell Canada. “We invite all walkers to join us on Sunday, May 6 for this important fundraising event, and to enjoy some great musical entertainment too.”

“Last year alone, our counsellors helped kids in need from almost 3,000 Canadian communities through our phone and online services,” said Tom McAllister, President and CEO, Kids Help Phone. “About 70% of contacts are from well-functioning kids who are dealing with the everyday issues of growing up or who are facing a crisis they don’t know how to deal with using their regular support system. The other 30% are children at risk – those who don’t have the support or skills to approach the challenges of growing up and who are at risk of turning to potentially dangerous solutions because they lack the supports necessary to deal with their problems.”

Cyber bullying a growing concern
One of the problems that more and more young people are dealing with on a daily basis is cyber bullying – bullying and harassment by e-mail, instant messaging, text messages, blogs, mobile phones and websites. Recognizing that this is a growing concern, Kids Help Phone today released a new study on cyber bullying among Canadian children and youth. The report, “Cyber bullying: Our Kids New Reality”, is based on almost 2,500 responses to an online survey conducted by Kids Help Phone between December 20, 2006 and January 20, 2007.

"The report shows how important the online community is in the lives of young people today, and it also highlights some of the realities that kdis are facing when it comes to the Internet," said Donna Hansplant, Vice President of Counselling Services, Kids Help Phone. "Kids have a false sense of safety and anonymity online that is resulting in some very risky behaviours and leaving kids open to things like cyber bullying. Our goal is to provide kids, parents and educators with insights on how we can all work together to help young people deal with this emerging problem.

Joining Bell Canada as sponsors of the 2007 Bell Walk for Kids Help Phone are BMO Financial Group, Boston Pizza, Campbell Company of Canada, Compass Group, CTV, Group 4 Securicor, Motorola, Nestlé Canada Inc., Parmalat, Standard Radio, Sympatico/MSN and Unigistix. Event suppliers include Air Canada Kids’ Horizons, AIR MILES Reward Program, ATS, Hilton Canada, and Nestlé Waters.

Please visit www.bellwalkforkidshelpphone.ca to:

  • Find out if there is a Bell Walk for Kids Help Phone taking place in your community
  • Register for the Bell Walk for Kids Help Phone
  • Pledge a walker or donate to Kids Help Phone
  • Volunteer for the Walk in your community

The Bell Walk for Kids Help Phone will be held in locations across Canada including:

  • British Columbia: Gibsons, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Vancouver, Victoria, White Rock
  • Alberta: Calgary, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat
  • Saskatchewan: Moose Jaw, Regina, Saskatoon, Yorkton
  • Manitoba: Brandon, Winnipeg
  • Ontario: Ajax, Barrie, Brockville, Chatham, Hamilton, Huntsville, Kingston, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Mississauga, Niagara, North Bay, Ottawa, Quinte, Sarnia, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Windsor, York Region
  • Quebec: Chicoutimi, Gatineau, Montreal, Quebec City

The Aliant Walk for Kids Help Phone will take place in:

  • New Brunswick: Moncton, Saint John
  • Nova Scotia: Kentville, Halifax, Pictou County, Sydney
  • Prince Edward Island: Charlottetown
  • Newfoundland: Corner Brook, Grand Falls-Windsor, St. John's

 About Kids Help Phone:
Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only toll-free, 24-hour, bilingual and anonymous phone and web counselling, referral and information service for children and youth. Every day, professional counsellors provide immediate, caring support to young people in urban and rural communities across the country. Kids contact Kids Help Phone about every issue imaginable – from school, dating and family problems, to depression, abuse and suicide. In 2006, Kids Help Phone helped young people in need from almost 3,000 Canadian communities more than 1.5 million times through its phone and online services.

About Bell Canada:
Bell Canada is Canada's national leader in communications with 28 million customer connections across the country. The company provides consumers with simple solutions to all their communications needs, including telephone services, wireless communications, high-speed Internet, digital television and voice over IP. Bell also offers integrated information and communications technology (ICT) services to businesses and governments, and is the Virtual Chief Information Officer (VCIO) to small and medium businesses (SMBs). Bell is proud to be a Premier National Partner and the exclusive Communications Partner to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. For information on Bell's products and services, please visit www.bell.ca, and for corporate information on BCE,
please visit www.bce.ca.

- 30 -

For more information, please contact:

Lindsay George
Manager, Communications
Kids Help Phone
416 586-5437
Lindsay.George@kidshelpphone.ca

Jacqueline Michelis
Bell Canada, Media Relations
416 581-3311
1 877 391-2007
jacqueline.michelis@bell.ca

Go Back

Brenda called Kid’s Help Phone to vent about her parents. She said they were being unreasonable by not allowing her to meet a boy. The 15-year-old was considering sneaking out anyway. A few questions revealed that the boy was someone she’d “met” on the Internet – and that he’d first said he was 15, but was actually 29. The KHP counselor talked about Brenda’s natural curiosity, but also about possible dangers. It didn’t take long for Brenda to admit to having “funny feelings” about it. By the end of the call, she’d decided to try to find someone her own age, met the “old-fashioned” way. Mike told us he was traveling fast on the road to nowhere. He wanted to get off drugs and off the streets. The KHP counselor calmed Mike, assessed his needs, and found him a safe shelter. Years later, Mike called again. Now 20, he was back in school, with a steady job and a new life. He was calling to say thanks – not just for what KHP had done, but most of all for listening to him and believing in him. Mike says KHP helped him turn his life around. Today, he spends his spare time helping street youth. Ten-year-old Megan was being sexually and physically abused. Two nights earlier, she’d been placed in a foster home, but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her foster parents yet. With gentle prompting, Megan began to tell her story. Her feelings were agonizingly mixed. Despite everything, she missed her mom’s bedtime stories and the familiarity of home. It meant a lot to be able to talk about her feelings with someone she could trust. Together, Megan and KHP looked at what Megan could do to make things easier, like getting bedtime stories on tape. She was grateful to be reminded that her foster home would become more familiar each day, and that KHP would be there whenever she needed it in the days ahead. Brenda called Kid’s Help Phone to vent about her parents. She said they were being unreasonable by not allowing her to meet a boy. The 15-year-old was considering sneaking out anyway. A few questions revealed that the boy was someone she’d “met” on the Internet – and that he’d first said he was 15, but was actually 29. The KHP counselor talked about Brenda’s natural curiosity, but also about possible dangers. It didn’t take long for Brenda to admit to having “funny feelings” about it. By the end of the call, she’d decided to try to find someone her own age, met the “old-fashioned” way. Mike told us he was traveling fast on the road to nowhere. He wanted to get off drugs and off the streets. The KHP counselor calmed Mike, assessed his needs, and found him a safe shelter. Years later, Mike called again. Now 20, he was back in school, with a steady job and a new life. He was calling to say thanks – not just for what KHP had done, but most of all for listening to him and believing in him. Mike says KHP helped him turn his life around. Today, he spends his spare time helping street youth. Ten-year-old Megan was being sexually and physically abused. Two nights earlier, she’d been placed in a foster home, but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her foster parents yet. With gentle prompting, Megan began to tell her story. Her feelings were agonizingly mixed. Despite everything, she missed her mom’s bedtime stories and the familiarity of home. It meant a lot to be able to talk about her feelings with someone she could trust. Together, Megan and KHP looked at what Megan could do to make things easier, like getting bedtime stories on tape. She was grateful to be reminded that her foster home would become more familiar each day, and that KHP would be there whenever she needed it in the days ahead. Brenda called Kid’s Help Phone to vent about her parents. She said they were being unreasonable by not allowing her to meet a boy. The 15-year-old was considering sneaking out anyway. A few questions revealed that the boy was someone she’d “met” on the Internet – and that he’d first said he was 15, but was actually 29. The KHP counselor talked about Brenda’s natural curiosity, but also about possible dangers. It didn’t take long for Brenda to admit to having “funny feelings” about it. By the end of the call, she’d decided to try to find someone her own age, met the “old-fashioned” way. Mike told us he was traveling fast on the road to nowhere. He wanted to get off drugs and off the streets. The KHP counselor calmed Mike, assessed his needs, and found him a safe shelter. Years later, Mike called again. Now 20, he was back in school, with a steady job and a new life. He was calling to say thanks – not just for what KHP had done, but most of all for listening to him and believing in him. Mike says KHP helped him turn his life around. Today, he spends his spare time helping street youth. Ten-year-old Megan was being sexually and physically abused. Two nights earlier, she’d been placed in a foster home, but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her foster parents yet. With gentle prompting, Megan began to tell her story. Her feelings were agonizingly mixed. Despite everything, she missed her mom’s bedtime stories and the familiarity of home. It meant a lot to be able to talk about her feelings with someone she could trust. Together, Megan and KHP looked at what Megan could do to make things easier, like getting bedtime stories on tape. She was grateful to be reminded that her foster home would become more familiar each day, and that KHP would be there whenever she needed it in the days ahead. Brenda called Kid’s Help Phone to vent about her parents. She said they were being unreasonable by not allowing her to meet a boy. The 15-year-old was considering sneaking out anyway. A few questions revealed that the boy was someone she’d “met” on the Internet – and that he’d first said he was 15, but was actually 29. The KHP counselor talked about Brenda’s natural curiosity, but also about possible dangers. It didn’t take long for Brenda to admit to having “funny feelings” about it. By the end of the call, she’d decided to try to find someone her own age, met the “old-fashioned” way. Mike told us he was traveling fast on the road to nowhere. He wanted to get off drugs and off the streets. The KHP counselor calmed Mike, assessed his needs, and found him a safe shelter. Years later, Mike called again. Now 20, he was back in school, with a steady job and a new life. He was calling to say thanks – not just for what KHP had done, but most of all for listening to him and believing in him. Mike says KHP helped him turn his life around. Today, he spends his spare time helping street youth. Ten-year-old Megan was being sexually and physically abused. Two nights earlier, she’d been placed in a foster home, but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her foster parents yet. With gentle prompting, Megan began to tell her story. Her feelings were agonizingly mixed. Despite everything, she missed her mom’s bedtime stories and the familiarity of home. It meant a lot to be able to talk about her feelings with someone she could trust. Together, Megan and KHP looked at what Megan could do to make things easier, like getting bedtime stories on tape. She was grateful to be reminded that her foster home would become more familiar each day, and that KHP would be there whenever she needed it in the days ahead. Brenda called Kid’s Help Phone to vent about her parents. She said they were being unreasonable by not allowing her to meet a boy. The 15-year-old was considering sneaking out anyway. A few questions revealed that the boy was someone she’d “met” on the Internet – and that he’d first said he was 15, but was actually 29. The KHP counselor talked about Brenda’s natural curiosity, but also about possible dangers. It didn’t take long for Brenda to admit to having “funny feelings” about it. By the end of the call, she’d decided to try to find someone her own age, met the “old-fashioned” way. Mike told us he was traveling fast on the road to nowhere. He wanted to get off drugs and off the streets. The KHP counselor calmed Mike, assessed his needs, and found him a safe shelter. Years later, Mike called again. Now 20, he was back in school, with a steady job and a new life. He was calling to say thanks – not just for what KHP had done, but most of all for listening to him and believing in him. Mike says KHP helped him turn his life around. Today, he spends his spare time helping street youth. Ten-year-old Megan was being sexually and physically abused. Two nights earlier, she’d been placed in a foster home, but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her foster parents yet. With gentle prompting, Megan began to tell her story. Her feelings were agonizingly mixed. Despite everything, she missed her mom’s bedtime stories and the familiarity of home. It meant a lot to be able to talk about her feelings with someone she could trust. Together, Megan and KHP looked at what Megan could do to make things easier, like getting bedtime stories on tape. She was grateful to be reminded that her foster home would become more familiar each day, and that KHP would be there whenever she needed it in the days ahead. Brenda called Kid’s Help Phone to vent about her parents. She said they were being unreasonable by not allowing her to meet a boy. The 15-year-old was considering sneaking out anyway. A few questions revealed that the boy was someone she’d “met” on the Internet – and that he’d first said he was 15, but was actually 29. The KHP counselor talked about Brenda’s natural curiosity, but also about possible dangers. It didn’t take long for Brenda to admit to having “funny feelings” about it. By the end of the call, she’d decided to try to find someone her own age, met the “old-fashioned” way. Mike told us he was traveling fast on the road to nowhere. He wanted to get off drugs and off the streets. The KHP counselor calmed Mike, assessed his needs, and found him a safe shelter. Years later, Mike called again. Now 20, he was back in school, with a steady job and a new life. He was calling to say thanks – not just for what KHP had done, but most of all for listening to him and believing in him. Mike says KHP helped him turn his life around. Today, he spends his spare time helping street youth. Ten-year-old Megan was being sexually and physically abused. Two nights earlier, she’d been placed in a foster home, but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her foster parents yet. With gentle prompting, Megan began to tell her story. Her feelings were agonizingly mixed. Despite everything, she missed her mom’s bedtime stories and the familiarity of home. It meant a lot to be able to talk about her feelings with someone she could trust. Together, Megan and KHP looked at what Megan could do to make things easier, like getting bedtime stories on tape. She was grateful to be reminded that her foster home would become more familiar each day, and that KHP would be there whenever she needed it in the days ahead. Brenda called Kid’s Help Phone to vent about her parents. She said they were being unreasonable by not allowing her to meet a boy. The 15-year-old was considering sneaking out anyway. A few questions revealed that the boy was someone she’d “met” on the Internet – and that he’d first said he was 15, but was actually 29. The KHP counselor talked about Brenda’s natural curiosity, but also about possible dangers. It didn’t take long for Brenda to admit to having “funny feelings” about it. By the end of the call, she’d decided to try to find someone her own age, met the “old-fashioned” way. Mike told us he was traveling fast on the road to nowhere. He wanted to get off drugs and off the streets. The KHP counselor calmed Mike, assessed his needs, and found him a safe shelter. Years later, Mike called again. Now 20, he was back in school, with a steady job and a new life. He was calling to say thanks – not just for what KHP had done, but most of all for listening to him and believing in him. Mike says KHP helped him turn his life around. Today, he spends his spare time helping street youth. Ten-year-old Megan was being sexually and physically abused. Two nights earlier, she’d been placed in a foster home, but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her foster parents yet. With gentle prompting, Megan began to tell her story. Her feelings were agonizingly mixed. Despite everything, she missed her mom’s bedtime stories and the familiarity of home. It meant a lot to be able to talk about her feelings with someone she could trust. Together, Megan and KHP looked at what Megan could do to make things easier, like getting bedtime stories on tape. She was grateful to be reminded that her foster home would become more familiar each day, and that KHP would be there whenever she needed it in the days ahead. Brenda called Kid’s Help Phone to vent about her parents. She said they were being unreasonable by not allowing her to meet a boy. The 15-year-old was considering sneaking out anyway. A few questions revealed that the boy was someone she’d “met” on the Internet – and that he’d first said he was 15, but was actually 29. The KHP counselor talked about Brenda’s natural curiosity, but also about possible dangers. It didn’t take long for Brenda to admit to having “funny feelings” about it. By the end of the call, she’d decided to try to find someone her own age, met the “old-fashioned” way. Mike told us he was traveling fast on the road to nowhere. He wanted to get off drugs and off the streets. The KHP counselor calmed Mike, assessed his needs, and found him a safe shelter. Years later, Mike called again. Now 20, he was back in school, with a steady job and a new life. He was calling to say thanks – not just for what KHP had done, but most of all for listening to him and believing in him. Mike says KHP helped him turn his life around. Today, he spends his spare time helping street youth. Ten-year-old Megan was being sexually and physically abused. Two nights earlier, she’d been placed in a foster home, but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her foster parents yet. With gentle prompting, Megan began to tell her story. Her feelings were agonizingly mixed. Despite everything, she missed her mom’s bedtime stories and the familiarity of home. It meant a lot to be able to talk about her feelings with someone she could trust. Together, Megan and KHP looked at what Megan could do to make things easier, like getting bedtime stories on tape. She was grateful to be reminded that her foster home would become more familiar each day, and that KHP would be there whenever she needed it in the days ahead.