Karen Foley | Dreamstime.com

By Sheldon Spackman

Looking For Help

Red Deer mother struggling to find help for bullied daughter

Jul 27, 2020 | 1:33 PM

A Red Deer mother is expressing fear and frustration over her inability to find help for her eight-year-old daughter she says is being bullied by a 10-year-old boy.

Shannon, who asked that her last name not be shared, lives in West Park and says her daughter has been going through “complete hell” since the bullying began in late February, not long after they moved to the city in January.

“We didn’t really know about this neighbour, but we had been told from other residents to watch out for this kid as a lot of their children have had issues with him,” explains Shannon. “I have two daughters, a five-year-old and an eight-year-old, and they started playing with this child and it didn’t register that that was who the other neighbours were talking about.”

Not long after, Shannon says the boy started bullying her older daughter and that it’s become worse over time.

“He was punching my child in the face, would threaten to kill her, stomped on her throat to the point where she was having difficulties breathing after that and bruises on her throat. When she said ‘I don’t want to play with you,’ he would punch her or kick her or do something physical to her, so she felt like she couldn’t say no to playing with this child.”

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Shannon says trying to find a way to protect her without being physically present has become impossible.

“The cops won’t do anything because he’s under-12. They said to talk to social services, and they won’t get involved because the child is not being neglected at home. So I don’t know how to protect her.”

Shannon says the boy lives with his grandmother and two younger siblings, but attempts to address the situation with her have so far failed.

“We’ve had so many talks with her and it’s the same thing. As soon as she opens the door and sees it’s me or my fiancé, she’s just tears. You can’t even talk to her and say, ‘This is what your grandson is doing and we need to address it.’”

Shannon feels that under current laws it’s the perpetrator who is being protected while the victim, in this case her daughter, continues to be victimized.

“It’s not helping her. It’s just this endless cycle that will not end,” she exclaims. “It’s going to take her being permanently disabled or even killed for someone to say, ‘Hey, maybe we should do something.’ Something has to be done because I’m sure there are other kids out there going through the same thing.”

According to Red Deer RCMP, in any incident with crimes committed by youth, the RCMP follows the Youth Criminal Justice Act which states that a child under the age of 12 cannot be charged with a crime.

In situations where youth under 12 are involved with criminal behaviour, the RCMP works closely with all parties involved to ensure appropriate services are accessed by both the victim and the offender. These services may include, but are not limited to, social services, youth intervention, mental health support, family support, Victim Services and other community agencies.

“Government is committed to preventing bullying at home, in school, in communities and the workplace,” adds Mike Long, Director of Communications, Children’s Services Communications and Public Engagement, in a statement provided to rdnewsNOW. “Resources are available to anyone who is being bullied. You can call 911 if you or someone you know is in immediate danger.”

Long says there is a Bullying Helpline available 24/7 in over 170 languages at 1-888-456-2323.

There is also an online bullying chat service available daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at alberta.ca/BullyingChat.

Long further points out that more information about actions to take to prevent bullying is available at alberta.ca/Bullying, as well as available resources, supports and services so victims and bystanders of bullying know how and where to get help.