PINK Shirt Day, also called Anti-Bullying Day in some provinces, was originally started by an act of bullying in a Nova Scotia high school in 2007.
Media reports at the time noted that a Grade 9 boy was bullied because he was wearing a pink shirt. Two older students at the school then organized a Day of Pink, and bought pink shirts for other kids at the school to wear in support of the bullied teen. Anti-bullying campaigns quickly sprang up across the country, and Pink Shirt Day is now a popular campaign, especially in schools. Kids Help Phone notes on its website that "Bullying is the name we give to any negative, aggressive action that hurts, humiliates, demeans, frightens or excludes someone." It further notes that the word "bullying" is used to describe different incidents that in adult situations would often be referred to as assault, aggression, abuse, harassment, discrimination, homophobia or stalking. Kids Help Phone has information on its website for kids who are being bullied, kids who witness bullying or kids who think they may be bullies. Visit KidsHelpPhone.ca or call 1-800-668-6868.
TAKING ACTION
WEST Bay elementary students Laleh Mohebiany (left), Marcia Ponzlet, Archie King and Andrew Shields display posters they made showcasing some of what they learned as part of discussions leading up to Pink Shirt Day. Among other anti-bullying activities, students at the school also sold anti-bullying bracelets and each class created Pink Shirt Day pledges.
