Bonnie Prentice, Paul Harris Fellow
"Bonnie's passion and dedication is in promoting an environment for youth that is safe and free from discrimination and harassment. She is a great advocate and works hard to ensure that their voices are heard."
- Carolyn Fish, Coordinator, Side by Side Program, Family Counselling Centre
Bonnie Prentice has always been very passionate about working with youth particularly those who are at risk or facing barriers to success.
When she retired in 2001 from the District School Board of Niagara - after working 20 years as an English Teacher and Head of Student Services - Bonnie began managing Safer Communities: Safer Schools Networking for Youth with Mental Health Issues. This was an opportunity for Bonnie to share with her education colleagues information and strategies learned throughout many years of working with high risk youth.
Over the past five years Bonnie has been the Project Coordinator at TALK - Teams of Adults Listening to Kids, working to reduce youth victimization in the Niagara region.
Bonnie has been a strong advocate promoting the work of TALK in many capacities and working as a partner with many organizations and committees and supporting projects that work to improve the lives of at-risk youth in our community.
Bonnie consults with youth, educators, parents, and police around the issues of bullying, harassment, racism, sexism, homophobia/transphobia, and dating violence, as well as around youth dealing with addictions and mental health issues.
In the past, Bonnie has worked with many community groups, such as the Niagara Suicide Prevention Coalition, Niagara Child and Youth Services, and School Based Gay Straight Alliances. She has also been part of the YWCA Niagara region coordinating committee for the annual Power of Being a Girl Conference.
For her work with youth and at-risk youth, the Rotary Club of St. Catharines South is proud to recognize Bonnie Prentice as a Paul Harris Fellow.