November 15-22 is Restorative Justice Week in Canada and this year's theme is "Communities Responding to Human Needs." The Cranbrook and District Restorative Justice Society is focusing on harassment and bullying and is presenting Cindy Gale, the mother of a young girl, Dawn-Marie Wesley, who committed suicide after being bullied by a small group of her peers.

She has presented her story to Oprah Winfrey, Anderson Cooper, CTV's W5 and many others.

Gale will be speaking on Nov. 17 at the Heritage Inn in Cranbrook and telling her story to the community. The start time is 7 p.m. and admission is by donation at the door with proceeds going to the Cranbrook and District Restorative Justice Society.

Gale will also be spending time talking to high school students in Cranbrook and in the Elk Valley.

Our volunteer group wanted to bring someone in to speak about the theme 'communities responding to human needs'," said Michelle Godec, program co-ordinator for CDRJ. "We decided to focus on the topic of bullying due to the large number of files we get of assault and harassment."

Godec researched different speakers that focus on bullying and was impressed with Gale's presentation.

"She's someone with an interesting story to tell," said Godec.

"Cindy is part of a group called Your Life Counts (YLC) that assists youth with varying difficult issues. She heads up the 180 anti-bullying program."

The 180 anti-bullying program makes presentations to schools and various groups with the goal of turning bullies around 180 degrees to become anti-bullying advocates.

"The loss of Dawn-Marie was the worst nightmare of any mother come true yet out of it all there has to be something good," said Gale. "Working with YLC! and reaching as many youth and families as I can with the Bully-180 program is the something good. I'm certain that Dawn-Marie is happy every time a life is saved and when a bully turns around and becomes a powerful advocate of zero tolerance on bullying. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Bullies need to know what the bottom line leads to."

On Nov. 19, Godec with be presenting a workshop at the Cranbrook Library's Manual Training Building at 7 p.m. titled 'Harassment in the Workplace". There is no admission to attend, but space is limited.