Everyone has the right to be respected, to feel safe and to have their reputation protected. Whether at school or online, rights always come with responsibilities. Many actions have real consequences. Before you do anything, ask yourself if you have the right.
Examples of criminal acts
Violence and bullying among students and toward school staff, as well as cyberbullying, may be considered a criminal offence. Some situations of violence, bullying or cyberbullying may also be linked to sex, gender, gender stereotypes, inegalitarian relationships or sexual behaviour. These actions are serious and may, in some cases, constitute criminal offences. This applies, for example, to the following words, actions or behaviours:
- threats
- physical or verbal violence
- malicious rumours
- theft or damage to personal property
- criminal harassment
- non-consensual sharing of intimate images
- sexual harassment or unwanted behaviour with sexual connotations
- humiliating, degrading or threatening remarks based on sex, gender, sexual orientation or gender expression
- incitement to hatred or bullying based on personal characteristics, such as ethnic origin, religion, gender or sexual orientation
Legal consequences of violence and bullying
As of the age of 7, everyone has civil liability. Consequently, if an individual engages in bullying that damages another person’s reputation, they may face legal action and be required to pay financial compensation to the victim.
As of the age of 12, if an act of bullying is of a criminal nature, legal consequences may apply, such as meetings with the police, extrajudicial measures, community service, the opening of a case in the criminal justice system for adolescents, etc.
For minors, parents are generally responsible for damages caused by their child.
What to do
If you are being bullied, you can walk away from the situation and find a safe place, then ask for help from an adult you trust.
If you witness bullying, you can lend an ear to the person being bullied and show them your support. You can also ask a responsible adult for help.
National Student Ombudsman (NSO)
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National Student Ombudsman (in French only)
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The NSO ensures that students’ rights are respected with regard to the services provided to them and the way in which institutions handle reports or complaints concerning an act of sexual violence.
Info-Social 811
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A free and confidential telephone help line.
Tel-jeunes
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Live chat or phone service for parents of teenagers: 1-800-361-5085
Live chat or text service for young people: 514-600-1002
Phone service for young people: 1-800-263-2266
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Professional counsellors are available for young people aged 20 and under who are affected by various issues, including bullying or cyberbullying. From 8 a.m. to midnight, Monday to Sunday.
Kids Help Phone
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Chat: 686868
Telephone: 1-800-668-6868
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Online mental health services for children, adolescents and young adults available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, throughout Québec.
Sexual Violence Helpline
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Resources for people affected by sexual assault, sexual exploitation and all other forms of sexual violence (as a victim, witness, professional or with questions).
Crime Victims Assistance Centres (CAVAC)
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CAVACs are present in all regions of Québec and provide access to professionals trained in intervention for issues related to bullying or cyberbullying.
NeedHelpNow.ca
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Provides practical solutions for young people aged 13 to 17 to help them regain control of a situation involving cyberbullying. Provides resources for parents and adults who need to support young people dealing with cyberbullying.
+FORT
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+FORT is a mobile application that offers support to young victims of bullying to help them better understand what they are going through and explore strategies to reduce the bullying they experience.
Protect Kids Online
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This website is designed to help parents and guardians protect children online and reduce the risk of them being exposed to violence.
A Guide to Assist Parents Whose Children Are Facing Violence or Bullying Issues at School
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This guide provides practical tools for preventing violence and bullying, as well as for responding effectively and working with the school to protect children from bullying and cyberbullying.
Guides to support parents regarding bullying
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These guides explain what bullying is, the myths and the reality, the right approach for parents to take, along with some mistakes to avoid.
Resource memory aid
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This memory aid compiles resources for the general public.
Resource directory
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This document contains various resources for staff, students and parents.
Donnons l’exemple
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Promoting the importance of civility in interactions between parents and school staff, with the aim of setting an example of healthy and respectful communication.
See also
Last update: March 23, 2026