Tips to keep kids safe in light of RWB student photo allegations
Allegations of inappropriate photographs of young dancers in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School are raising concerns with parents about how to keep children safe.
Rebecca Ulrich, an education manager at Red Cross says the best way to protect children is to communicate with them.
"Our initial reaction might be they contributed to it, or they're part of the problem, but they're not going to tell us about what's going wrong, or what they're uncomfortable about if we have a really negative reaction to them. So creating that open space for dialogue and conversation," said Ulrich.
She says children can be put in challenging or vulnerable situations when they are dealing with adults they want to please, like coaches or teachers.
Ulrich says children should be taught what is acceptable, and parents should try to create an environment where kids are comfortable asking questions.
"That's really what puts our kids at greater risk, if we don't talk to them about the fact that, you know, it's not OK for any adult to do this," she said.
Maclean's magazine has alleged the investigation was the result of RWB employee Bruce Monk photographing students at various stages of undress. In the magazine report, Monk offers no comment other than calling the allegations "ridiculous."
"As a result of recent communications with the authorities, we have come to a decision that the individual will no longer be associated with the RWB," said Jeff Herd, RWB's executive director in a release.
On Friday, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet released a statement saying that the investigation into the photographs was still ongoing.