York professor inducted into the Order of Canada

Tyler McKay | Assistant News Editor

Featured Image: Professor Pepler, newly appointed Officer of the Order of Canada. | Courtesy of YorkU

On December 28, 2019, Professor Debra Pepler was inducted into the Order of Canada. Her appointment was awarded by Governor General Julie Payette.

“The Order honours people whose service shapes our society, whose innovations ignite our imaginations, and whose compassion unites our communities,” reads the Governor General website.

Professor Pepler was recognized “for her innovative, community-based research on social issues involving children and youth, which changed the way psychologists study bullying.”

Since 1984 Pepler has “conducted research that has been embedded in clinical, educational, and community settings.”

“The link between the quality of relationships that children and youth experience and their development has emerged in every project that I have done over the past 40 years,” adds Pepler.

Pepler also developed a method of observing behaviour of children on school playgrounds using cameras and microphones.

“We were able to step into children’s worlds and see the complexity of bullying interactions. By understanding the nature of these interactions, we were able to work with educators to develop strategies and programming to prevent and address bullying problems,” says Pepler.

Pepler has been a member of the Department of Psychology at York since 1988 and is now a Distinguished Research Professor of Psychology.  

Most notably, in 2006, Pepler created PREVNet (Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network) in cooperation with Dr Wendy Craig, who was Pepler’s first York PhD student. Craig obtained her PhD from York in 1993 and is now a department head and professor at Queen’s University. 

PREVNet is a national network comprised of 120 researchers, 150 graduate students, and 62 youth-serving organizations.

“Through education, research, training and policy change, PREVNet aims to stop the violence caused by bullying – so every child can grow up happy, healthy, and safe.”

It is all of this work that has led to Professor Pepler being nominated and inducted into the Order of Canada.

“I know that I have been immensely privileged to be able to pursue research that I care about deeply. To be recognized for it is truly an honour, not only for me but for all of those with whom I have worked to improve the lives of children and families,” says Pepler.

Some other notable inductees were made Companions of the Order. They include film director James Cameron, former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and Nobel Prize in Physics winner Donna Strickland, among others. 

In total, five new Companions, 38 Officers, and 77 Members were inducted.

Professor Pepler is now an Officer of the Order of Canada which recognizes national service or achievement.

Pepler is currently working with the Red Cross in developing “a website to share a timeline of the historical traumas that Indigenous peoples have experienced in Canada since contact in the 1500s” and is planning to start a blog “Growing Healthy Children” based on the link between quality relationships and youth development.

Professor Pepler and the other inductees will be invited to accept their insignia at a ceremony to be held in Rideau Hall in Ottawa at a later date.