A community forum on bullying held Monday night at Henry Grube Education represents the start of a conversation, one of the organizers said.

Only about 35 people registered in advance for the bullying and harassment forum. Dames Investing in Social Harmony (DISH) expects the event will be the first in an ongoing process.

The same group is responsible for bringing to town the annual Vagina Monologues — raising awareness of violence against women — and was formed to provide a fundraising basis for that project.

Rebecca McLean said it was the heart-wrenching online video posted by Amanda Todd, the Port Coquitlam teen who took her own life after being sexually exploited by an online predator, that motivated organizers.

“That took it to a whole new realm of recognition,” McLean said.

She said she’s aware of a several anti-bullying initiatives, but there seems to be little co-operation between the groups.

Monday’s forum included discussions about how to define bullying, harassment and violence. The second half of the gathering involved brainstorming around sub-topics.

DISH plans to compile the results of the forum and make them available to other groups.

“I just see it as a beginning, a starting point,” McLean said.