November 20, 2008 - Every day, at every school, violence happens. We want to encourage students in grades 4, 5 and 6 to make a commitment to reject violence and express themselves through the Unité sans violence, exprimez-vous ! (United Without Violence: Express yourself !) program.

This is an original idea developed by the policing techniques students at the Cégep de Sherbrooke and adapted by the SPVM for students on the island of Montréal. To run the program, the SPVM created a partnership with the Commission scolaire de Montréal and Info-Crime.

The idea of "united" brings the students in the classroom together around a shared ideal of non-violence. It focuses on "strength in numbers" and fosters a feeling of belonging and attachment to the community. The program is designed mainly for sixth graders, and every child in the participating classrooms is given a shirt they wear one day a week all year long.

On the shirt is the child's commitment, in the form of a contact, to neither tolerate nor express violence. Each contract is personalized, because the student determines the type of violence he or she wishes to take action against. The students all also receive a mouse pad to remind them of their commitment to non-violence.

The members of United Without Violence are ambassadors for non-violence in their schools, and they make a commitment to meet with other students to talk about the program. They give reward vouchers to students who demonstrate peaceful behaviour, and at the end of the month, prizes are drawn for the ambassadors and the students who received the vouchers.

In 2008-2009, the "Unité sans violence" program is being offered in 33 schools on the island of Montréal, in 75 classes with a total of 2000 students. We hope to extend the program to even more schools next year.

Expressing yourself is standing up for yourself!

The "Unité sans violence" program helps you:

• Teach the students and raise their awareness about different types of violence
• Encourage the students to make a commitment to reject violence by signing a contract and working on a sense of belonging
• Urge the students to express themselves and stand up for themselves
• Encourage the students to engage in positive behaviour
• Give the students tools to allow them to react appropriately in response to violence

By making the students more accountable and encouraging them to speak out for a non-violence, we can help them grow to become good citizens.

"For us at the SPVM, working with our partners to develop original prevention tools is a crucial way to diversify our children's programs. This type of partnership is a testament to our commitment and our desire to work closely with the people in the community," explained Denis Desroches, Assistant-Directeur of the SPVM Service à la communauté de la région Sud at the program launch on November 20.

If your school would like to participate in 2009-2010, please contact the community relations officer who visits your school!

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