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Let’s talk about bully prevention!
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Dare to Care Blog
As a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and empowering youth to lead bullying prevention efforts, we know that knowledge is power. That's why we started this blog - to share our experience and insights into the complex issues surrounding bullying.
Whether you're a concerned parent looking for advice, an educator searching for classroom resources, a coach, a referee, a sports team, or a student wanting to make a difference, you'll find a wealth of information here.
Together, through understanding and community, we can create positive change. Thank you for visiting, and welcome to the movement!
Navigating Teen Apps: Setup & Safety Guide
Learn how to set up your teen’s social media accounts securely with this quick guide on what settings to adjust and what risks to watch out for. (Last update: October 2026) Remember: Privacy settings are a tool, not a substitute for active parenting. As adults and caregivers, we cannot expect age restrictions, parental controls, or platform safety features to fully protect our kids. There are always ways around them—and kids are incredibly savvy when it comes to technology.
Sarah Hébert
1 day ago5 min read
How to Set Your Season Up for Success
A Complete Guide for Athletes, Board Members, Officials, Coaches, and Parents. Some elite-level coaches call off-season the real season as it is a period of time where athletes work on skills and conditioning to really up their game for the upcoming season. The same efforts should be put into the cohesion and safety of a team. Creating a safe, high-performing, and positive environment takes intentional effort from every single person involved in the community. Whether you ar
Mathieu Constantin
Aug 135 min read
What Happens When the Board Members Are the Ones Doing the Bullying?
Most community organizations are built on the backs of volunteers. Parents step forward because they care. They want to give back to the activity their children love, strengthen their communities, and create opportunities for others. The vast majority of board members are good people doing difficult work with limited time, limited resources, and often very little formal governance training. Which is exactly why governance may be one of the most important – and most overlooked
Mathieu Constantin
Aug 133 min read
Weather-Ready Coaching: Protecting Our Athletes in a Changing Climate
Weather awareness is a fundamental safety skill for sports leaders. By understanding the differences between weather watches, warnings, and advisories, coaches can better protect their athletes and make smart, timely decisions about outdoor activities. We’ve all heard the old-school mindset before—or maybe even said it ourselves: "Back in my day, we trained no matter the conditions." But the reality is, the conditions simply aren't the same anymore. With rising summer temper
Sarah Hébert
Jul 93 min read
Why Most Kids Don’t Tell Their Parents They’re Being Bullied — And What You Can Do About It
Did you know that the majority of athletes who experience maltreatment never report it? R
Mathieu Constantin
May 14 min read
Dare to Care Joins Rogers Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink to Amplify Impact for Alberta Youth.
Calgary, Alberta - April 22, 2026 - Dare to Care is proud to announce its selection as an official participating charity in the 2026 Rogers Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink program.
Sarah Hébert
Apr 242 min read
Turning the End of the Season into Your Club’s Biggest Opportunity
Athletes worry about playing time, parents worry about their child being singled out, and coaches may fear conflict within the organization.
Mathieu Constantin
Apr 87 min read
Alternatives to Physical Punishments in Sport
Safe Sport has deemed physical punishments such as using exercise for disciplinary reasons a form of misconduct.
Freya Szmidt
Mar 247 min read
Insights & Inspiration: Dare to Care’s Top Picks of 2025
During the holiday season, one of my favourite traditions is to pause and reflect on highlights from the past 12 months. Whether it’s celebrating accomplishments, scrolling through photos, or reminiscing about favourite meals, taking this time helps me truly appreciate the year that has passed.
Raine Paul
Dec 18, 20256 min read
Team Bonding Activities: Strengthening Connections
At Dare to Care, we get asked all the time—especially at the start of each school year or sports season— “Do you run team bonding activities?”
Mathieu Constantin
Oct 15, 20254 min read
Embracing Change: New Coaching Approaches for a Successful Season
Like many coaches, I'm gearing up for another exciting season. Whether you're returning to the court, field, pitch, gym, or — in my case — the pool deck.
Raine Paul
Sep 12, 20255 min read
25 Years of Daring to Care: A Founder’s Journey of Compassion, Courage and Change
What started as a leap of faith became a 25-year journey of compassion, courage, and community. These are the moments that shaped Dare to Care—and me.
Lisa Dixon-Wells
Jun 10, 20255 min read
From Allegation to Action—Your Guide to Managing Club Issues
Two years of waiting, vague updates, and reliving the incident drained my spirit. Ultimately, I was told the case was closed without consequence. This was frustrating, disheartening, and undeniably unsafe. When internal investigations are poorly handled, they risk doing more harm than good. That’s why we must act with care, urgency, and integrity—because safety should never be negotiable.
Mathieu Constantin
May 9, 20255 min read
From Tension to Teamwork: Navigating Conflict in Sport
Let’s face it, conflict resolution is hard. But the truth is, it doesn’t have to be. Conflict is a normal part of sport. Any time a group of
Raine Paul
Mar 16, 20256 min read
Founder and Executive Director Announces her Retirement
It is with a mix of gratitude and sadness that we announce the retirement of our esteemed Founder and Executive Director, Lisa Dixon-Wells,
Raine Paul
Jan 20, 20252 min read
Honouring Truth & Reconciliation Through Sport
As we approach the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation (September 30th) we are reminded that sadly sport and recreation have not always been welcoming, inclusive, supportive, or safe spaces for Indigenous participants. As sport leaders, we have the opportunity to work to change this. 1) Acknowledging the Day – As of 2023 the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation (formerly and still commonly known as Orange Shirt Day) is a statutory holiday in Canada. As we take the day
Raine Paul
Sep 29, 20242 min read
Understanding the Effects of Bullying on Mental Health
Bullying, in all its forms, can exert a deep and lasting impact on an individual's mental health.
Lisa Dixon-Wells
Sep 23, 20242 min read
Dare to Care Summer Reading List
Ah, summertime. As you prepare for road trips, relaxing by the lake, stay-cations, and whatever else summer has in store for you, don’t forget to stock-up on your reading materials. The Dare to Care team has compiled a list with some of our favourite books that helped us grow as coaches, sports leaders, and people. This summer we encourage you not only to dive into the water for a refreshing swim, but also to dive into a great book. So, kick-back, relax and enjoy these amazin
Raine Paul
Jun 24, 20244 min read
Bullying in Sports: Provocative & Neurodiverse Athletes
Bullying doesn’t just happen to athletes. It has a profound and rippling impact across sports as a whole; impacting athletes, coaches, refer
Lisa Dixon-Wells
Feb 1, 20244 min read
Dare to Care Partners with BRP to Tackle Bullying in Sport
The Safe Sport movement has just become much stronger. Dare to Care and BRP have joined forces to have an immediate, meaningful and lasting impact on sport organizations across Canada. Dare to Care’s new program, Tackle Bullying in Sport: Powered by BRP unites two powerhouse organizations through their shared mission to foster cultures of respect, inclusivity and kindness. Lisa Dixon-Wells, the founder and Executive Director of Dare to Care, shares that in many sports environ
Lisa Dixon-Wells
Nov 24, 20233 min read
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