When a three-foot-nine adult talks to you about teasing and bullying, you tend to take him seriously. When a whole team of mini-people show up at your school, the impact of the message is even greater.
Last week two Slave Lake schools heard the ‘don’t tease’ message from the Canadian Half-Pints, a barnstorming basketball team of short people plus one tall guy. In town to play two games against a local ambulance service team, the Half Pints also visited E.G. Wahlstrom and St. Mary of the Lake Schools.
Don’t give in to bullying, advised Half Pints veteran ‘Pee Wee’ John Hayward, but don’t react violently either.
“Attitude is everything,” said Hayward, who got teased plenty when he was in school and even today at age 33 has to put up with funny looks and snide remarks.
“Walk on by,” when somebody teases you, said the 3’9” Half Pint. “You’re better than they are.”
His teammate, ‘Karate Kid’ James White told the kids that lots of teasing and bullying can be stopped and turned into friendship by letting somebody know how you feel. Apologizing and forgiving are powerful weapons that can turn antagonism into friendship, he said.
“You’d be amazed to see how easy it is to win a friend,” said White, who stands an inch or two taller than Hayward.
The Half Pints started 22 years ago when pro wrestling manager Phil Watson noticed how good a couple of his midget wrestlers were at basketball.
Since then they’ve played thousands of games across the country, usually in partnership with local charities. This time it was the Slave Lake Air/Ground Ambulance Society, whose share of ticket sales was $1,400. They raised another $363 on 50/50 sales and donations, including one 50/50 take that the winner donated back to the ambulance service.
Ambulance service Director of Operations Sandy Tobler says the money goes into a vehicle replacement fund for the four aging ambulances in the fleet. The goal is to replace one $140,000 vehicle next year.

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