Montreal elementary school students learning conflict resolution in Peace Pal Program

St. Charles Elementary School students are building community through the Lester B. Pearson School Board Peace Pal Program.

Each day at recess, students from age 11 to 13 wear their red vests and patrol the schoolyard in pairs.

They’re trained to resolve conflicts between younger students in collaboration with staff.

“I started in Grade 5. [...] In Grade 5, you start with the Grade 6 students helping you,” Grade 6 Peace Pal Athena Celestin said.

One student says it’s part of an anti-bullying effort.

“We can help people during the community so they have good decisions and they won’t bully,” said Minh Khang Vu, another participating student.

Those intervening in conflict can find easy fixes for their peers.

“I remember having a conflict [...] It was a big group of girls that were having trouble playing a game. I suggested for them to play a different game and they enjoyed that game a lot more,” Grade 6 Peace Pal Zara Spooner told CTV News.

Principal Mathieu Larocque hopes the program will continue growing in the years to come.

“They’re basically taught what they’re supposed to do in the schoolyard during recess - how to resolve conflicts, and also how to approach the younger students in a way that’s appropriate,” he said.

“Our junior students get to know our senior students better and it just makes them feel more at home,” he added.