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Students aim to send anti-bullying message to Queen's Park By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF A number of students at Iroquois Ridge High School have partnered with alumnus and Disney-star Jasmine Richards to send a powerful message to the province to pass Bill 13. Similar to the Anti-Bullying Act, Bill 13, or the Accepting Schools Act, is the province's attempt to give children the tools to protect themselves from bullying. With fears the bill may not be passed, a group of some 25 students at the school and recent Iroquois Ridge graduate Richards teamed up to shoot a music video with a message about anti-bullying. You Have the Power features a key message that bystanders have the power to help those who are being bullied. "It shows you can make a difference but it takes more than one person to do it," the group of students told the Beaver. The message was inspired by the recent and tragic event of a 15 year old from Ottawa who committed suicide. The youth, Jamie Hubley, had dealt with depression and was the victim of bullying because he was gay. Since his death, his father, Ottawa Councillor Allan Hubley, has taken on the fight against bullying and is spreading Artscene 17 · Wednesday, February 22, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com photos by eric riehl / oakville beaver video shoot: The students of Iroquois Ridge High School (right) partnered with Disney star and school alumni Jasmine Richards (left) to film an antibullying music video to the song You Have the Power, performed by Richards and GTA-rapper Kody (not pictured), who is also featured in the video. the message to encourage Queen's Park to pass the bill currently being drafted. Hubley is planning to host a rally later this year to send a message to the MPPs in Legislature -- the Iroquois Ridge video will be presented during the rally. The anti-bullying video was spearheaded by a group of Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) and Wellness Club students at Iroquois Ridge and was quickly joined by the school's dance team and CommCo (communications technology club). Nearly 150 students are featured in scenes of the video performing a dance number. The song is performed by Richards, a singer and actor, who has starred in Disney's Camp Rock films, as well as Family Channel's Naturally, Sadie and Overruled sitcoms. With some help from Toronto Film School students, the video was produced by Iroquois Ridge students, which involved choreography, storyboard, filming and editing -- it was shot over two days at Iroquois Ridge in mid-February. The video follows a bystander who witnesses several instances of bullying, and in some instances steps in to help. Nearly two months in the making, the video is set to premier at Iroquois Ridge sometime in March. Music Man staged The students of Fern Hill School are presenting their production of The Music Man, which opens tonight and ends tomorrow (Feb. 22-23). The show begins at 7 p.m. on both nights at The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts. Pictured, Christian Martyn (Harold Hill) and Grace Broadly (Marian Paroo) rehearse a scene. Tickets cost $23. For tickets, visit www. oakvillecentre.ca or call the box office at 905815-2021. eric riehl / oakville beaver Juno-nominee Emilie-Claire Barlow in town at the centre: Toronto-based jazz singer Emilie-Claire Barlow is coming to town for a performance at The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts on Friday, Feb. 24. The four-time Juno Award-nominee will be performing selections from her latest album, The Beat Goes On, which was nominated for a vocal jazz album of the year at the 2011 Junos. Barlow's music features arrangements from what is recognized as the Great American Songbook. The concert begins at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $42.99. For more information and tickets, visit www. oakvillecentre.ca. Emilie-Claire Barlow Two students get gold at Conservatory exams Two Oakville musicians earned top Ontario and Quebec marks at recent Royal Conservatory examinations. The local 2011 Gold Medal winners are Genevieve Dietrich (Grade 3 flute) and Claire Stewart (Grade 4 voice). The winners received their awards at a ceremony in Toronto earlier this month. To win the regional gold medals, candidates must achieve the highest standard of excellence in their province or designated region. They must score at least 80 per cent on the practical exam and must have completed the theory exams for their grade and discipline. The Royal Conservatory is one of the largest music education institutions in the world. Its curriculum provides a recognized standard of musical success through sequenced course of study and individual student examinations.