Hetty Margaretha van Gurp is a Canadian educator and the founder of Peaceful Schools International, an organization that provides international support to schools committed to creating a culture of peace. She founded the organization after her son Ben died after a bullying incident 1991.
Teaching career
Hetty's teaching career has included extensive and varied assignments in Canada and the USA. In addition to teaching public school, she has taught students with special needs as a resource teacher and as a teacher of the blind. Hetty has also been principal of an elementary school in Nova Scotia. Currently, Hetty is an Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Education, Saint Mary's University.
Consultancy
Since 1991, Hetty has served as a peace education consultant to schools across Canada and internationally. During this time, she introduced the concept of peer mediation to schools in Nova Scotia and still regularly conducts training sessions for students, educators and community members. She is frequently consulted by members of the media on issues related to safe schools. Hetty is often invited to deliver the keynote address at local and national conferences.
Appointments
Hetty has served on several national working groups to develop and coordinate guiding principles for safe schools. In 1998, she co-founded the League of Peaceful Schools in Nova Scotia. Following an extensive visit to Japan, Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia in 2001, Hetty established Peaceful Schools International. In 1995, Hetty was appointed to a two-year term as a member of the federal Human Rights Tribunal Panel. In 1996, she was awarded the YMCA Peace Medal. The Nova Scotia School Administrators’ Association recognized her contribution to education by presenting her with the "Principal of Distinction" award in 1998. Also in 1998, Hetty was awarded a Baha’i Commendation for "Promoting Racial Harmony." In 1999, she received the Annual Crime Prevention Society of Nova Scotia Award. Hetty was awarded Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2003. In July 2006, Hetty was presented with the Canadian Teachers’ Federation Special Recognition Award for meritorious service to education in 2006. Hetty was named as a Canadian hero by TIME magazine in June, 2006 and by readers Digest in January, 2007. Hetty was awarded the Order of Nova Scotia in 2013.
