Officer of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: November 22, 2019
• Invested on: November 17, 2022

Debra Pepler, O.C.
Toronto, Ontario

Through her community-based research, Debra Pepler has profoundly changed the way we perceive bullying. Distinguished research professor at York University, she has developed methodologies that shed new light on childrenÆs relationships and interactions, some of which were previously unknown, thus providing novel insight on the processes of aggression and victimization. She has demonstrated the vital importance of healthy social-emotional development, and revealed the pressing need to support the relationships and mental health of young Canadians through school-based programs, social service agencies, public policies and legislation.