Last Wednesday, Morden Collegiate Institute (MCI) welcomed back RCMP Constable Gord Olson with the Internet Child Exploitation Unit to talk with students and parents about online safety.
MCI Prinicipal Tania Siguardson recalled when he was in Morden in 2016.
"At the time I was a mom of a 15 and 13-year-old, and my 15-year-old had a cell phone, and I thought I 'knew', but as the old saying goes, 'You don't know what you don't know.' I learned so much at that presentation about how to, in a forum that I didn't grow up in, parent and help teach my kids. I helped them learn how to drive. I had a driver's license. I knew that venue. I didn't have a cell phone growing up. I barely know how to use the one I have now. I was dipping into a territory that I didn't understand and I felt like Gord gave me the tools to have those candid conversations."
Constable Olson gave a presentation to the students at school during the day.
Siguardson went through some of the things Const. Olson spoke to the kids about, before giving them some time after the presentation to ask questions privately in the guidance area.
"He did talk to kids about, he called them 'The Dirty Flirties', the sexting that goes on, he talked about inappropriate images being shared, he talked about soliciting. He talked about, you don't know who's on the other end of that, just because they have a picture just because they say they are who they are, doesn't mean that's who they are and really helped our kids become more informed consumers of the social media apps they're interacting with every day, all day long."
In the evening the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) had Const. Olson speak to the parents.
Siguardson said he took them through the same presentation he took the kids through, so they were informed on what he shared with their kids.
"In between each of those, he gave us some parenting help, he provided some resources, he provided tips like: charger phones in your bedroom, he talked about turning off the router, making sure that the gaming stops at a certain time, he talked about taking the power cable from behind back of that router, even take it to work with you. The little tricks that are so helpful to us, as parents, we don't think about. He also talked about the main apps kids are engaged in right now and shared some cases he had been involved with and some cases that involved young people within the Morden-Winkler area."
In a letter sent to parents regarding the presentation, Siguardson shared something added to the presentation since 2016 is the increase in online extortion, referencing a story of a local boy who fell prey to online extortion and tragically took his own life.
Siguardson noted after 2 years of isolation, it was tough, and kids turned to online social platforms for connection. She added, it is great to see them connecting in person again, but they need to be sure the ones they are connecting with on line are safe connections.
She had messages and final thoughts for parents and kids.
"Everyone out there that works with kids, whether you're a parent, or a neighbor, or an uncle, or an aunt, or a grandparent, we all love our kids so much and we just want them to be safe and that this is an avenue they know a whole bunch about and that we as adults. We need to learn about it, we can't just throw our hands up. And for the kids out there be smart consumers and question and challenge, and be sure. And if you're not sure, or if you've gotten to a situation that feels scary, reach for help, adults are here to help, that's what we're here for."
Siguardson encourages everyone to watch the presentation Const. Olson did a few years ago at Springs Christian Academy, the link can be found here.
Here are some resources provided by Constable Gord Olson for people to use to learn more about online safety.
Support links for students:
www.Cybertip.ca
www.Kidshelpphone.ca
www.Needhelpnow.ca
Think Before you Post
Support Links for Parents:
www.Commonsensemedia.org
www.Nationalonlinesafety.com