CALGARY- The tragic story of Amanda Todd, the B.C. teen who allegedly took her own life due to bullying, has touched a nerve with people around the world.
A number of rallies aimed at taking a stand against bullying are planned around the country, and in one case, has led to a man being fired.
Calgary mother Christine Claveau saw a derogatory posting on Todd’s memorial Facebook page, and made it her mission to track down the person who wrote it.
“I just saw all these hateful comments, outrageous things, tormenting her after her passing,” Claveau said. “This one gentleman said something that just triggered something in me.”
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So, she found out where he worked, and e-mailed his employer, Grafton-Fraser, about the incident. The Toronto-based menswear chain took immediate action and fired him.
In an e-mail to Global News, Dave McGregor, president and CEO of Grafton-Fraser said, “The individual in question was a part-time employee of our company and we took appropriate and justifiable action. Our company ethics are based on tolerance, respect and fair and honourable treatment of all individuals, internally, with our customers and the population as a whole.
“We have zero tolerance for mistreatment of others no matter what form it takes.”
Claveau was thrilled with the outcome.
The Facebook post has since been removed by the user.
Claveau and some other mothers now spend their time scouring message boards for people who make negative comments, and have been e-mailing their family members and employers to alert them to what’s being said in cyberspace.
The incident has struck a chord with Global News viewers, with some applauding Claveau’s persistence, while others think Grafton-Fraser was wrong to fire the employee.
A candlelight vigil is scheduled for Friday at Olympic Plaza in honour of Amanda Todd.
An anti-bullying and suicide prevention page called Bully Busters has also been set up to unite at-risk youth with their peers.
With files from Jill Croteau
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