FORT SIMPSON - Members of a newly formed committee in Fort Simpson envisage a day when bullying will no longer be tolerated in the community.

Describing themselves as a group of concerned community members, approximately 15 people make up a committee that is examining bullying in the village.

Flanked by RCMP members Const. Cindy Bowring and Const. Adolphus Norris, members of a Fort Simpson committee looking for a way to reduce bullying include from left, back row: Janice Hillaby, Dawn Tremblett, David Humphrey, Diane Harold; front row: Justin Carre, Nola Benwell, Tracy Humphrey and Tina Verge. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

"We want to change the culture in the community towards bullying so the norm is an intolerance for bullying and not a reluctant acceptance," said David Humphrey, the chair of the committee that currently doesn't have a name.

The committee was formed as a result of a public meeting on bullying that was held at Bompas elementary school in June. Following the meeting it was felt that a committee had to be created apart from the school to examine the problem in the whole community, said Humphrey.

For Humphrey and his wife Tracy, the motivation to join the group was personal. One of their three sons was bullied throughout the year.

The bullying took place in four progressive episodes that included pushing, verbal abuse and having balls thrown at him. Humphrey said they didn't feel satisfied by the school response and saw a need for an overall response from the community.

Many other parents on the committee shared similar stories during their third meeting on July 9.

"I've been in the school several times and I don't feel safe in that school," said Janice Hillaby about Thomas Simpson school.

Hillaby removed her daughter from Thomas Simpson and home-schooled her for the second half of the year. Hillaby hopes to reintegrate her in the fall.

"We need community support, it's a community issue," she said.

"It's not something to be ashamed of. It's real and it has to be faced."

The committee has set themselves a mandate: "Development of a shared approach to reduce bullying in our community."

By September the group hopes to have a plan to present to the community and the schools, said Humphrey. Until that time, members will meet once a week.

The group has already researched what's available in the community and programs outside of the community that address bullying, he said.

Community leaders and members of other organizations were invited to the meeting on Monday to gauge community support.

"If we don't have community support we might as well stop," said Tracy Humphrey.

Marie Lafferty, president of the Fort Simpson Metis Nation, said that bullying can happen in both adults and children.

"It's a big problem," she said.

Lafferty said she supported the committee's goals.

The committee will be looking at not only the victims of bullying, but also the bullies themselves, said Nola Benwell, one of the group's members. Both have to be supported, she said.

"It's about people coming together and restoration and dealing with the problem," she said.

The final recommendations will include a shared approach so that there is a consistent message about bullying whether people are at the schools, the recreation centre or the Open Doors Society, said David Humphrey.

The plan will also put a positive spin on bullying by making the issue about providing a safe environment, he said.

"People will learn it's not an acceptable behaviour and not a necessary behaviour because it's a safe environment," said Humphrey.

Administrators and faculty from Thomas Simpson school are away on summer holidays and could not be reached for comment.