Pink Shirt Day an Opportunity to Build Awareness and Take Action

Collingwood is honouring Pink Shirt Day by raising the anti-bullying flag on February 23 at the Community Flagpole located at the Collingwood Public Library, 55 Ste. Marie Street. Also, celebrate Pink Shirt Day by taking part in a Free community swim at the Centennial Aquatic Centre on Saturday, February 24 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The Pink Shirt Day story began in Berwick, Nova Scotia. In response to bullying, two students took a stand, purchasing pink shirts and encouraging classmates to wear pink in support of a student who had been bullied for wearing pink. What started as an act of kindness in 2007 has become a national movement.

Pink Shirt Day and the United Nations Anti-Bullying Day established in 2012 create opportunities for awareness raising. Encouraging us all to take action to prevent bullying and to build a culture of inclusion in our schools, workplaces, and communities.

The Collingwood Anti-Bullying Club has played an active role in building awareness in the community, reminding us of the importance of kindness and compassion. “We all need to work together to build a kinder Collingwood”, said Trevor Henson, one of the founders of the Collingwood Anti-Bullying Club.

Bullying is a concerning issue everywhere. The 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth found that most Canadian youth aged 12 to 17 had experienced at least one form of bullying in the past twelve months. The most common form of bullying identified by youth was being teased, name-calling or insults, rumours, and exclusion. 

Workplaces across Canada are not immune. Toxic work environments and instances of harassment harm the health and well-being of workers

Pink Shirt Day is officially recognized annually on the last Wednesday of February. Please consider wearing pink on February 28 in solidarity with victims of bullying and discrimination.