Coast Mountains School District's schools will join thousands of others across Canada and around the world recognizing Pink Shirt Day on Wednesday, February 26.  Students and staff are encouraged to show their support for the anti-bullying movement by wearing pink to raise awareness and to stand up against bullying.

Celebrated annually around the globe, Pink Shirt Day began in Canada in 2007 when two incredible students in Nova Scotia took a stand against homophobic bullying after a student was harassed and threatened for wearing pink.  They went out and bought pink shirts to give to fellow students to show their support for a boy who was being bullied simply for wearing a pink shirt.

This year's theme, Let Kindness Grow, is all about cultivating a community of kindness.  Just like tending to a garden, together we can each help nurture a sense of belonging where we live, work, and go to school.  It all starts with small gestures – a kind word, an offer of support or understanding.  If we plant enough, pretty soon, more will be sprouting up all around us!  By sprinkling these seeds of empathy and compassion, we can work towards a world without bullying and “Let Kindness Grow” through all of our community gardens.

Let Kindness Grow this Pink Shirt Day and all year round!  Let’s support programs that encourage healthy self-esteem and teach empathy, compassion and kindness.  Calling out bullying behaviour when you see it, or simply offering your support and kindness, there are so many ways we can all help and connect with people being bullied.

Please join the students and staff of Coast Mountains School District 82 as we recognize Pink Shirt Day on Wednesday, February 26 by wearing a PINK Shirt to show that we are all working together to prevent bullying and to treat everyone with dignity, respect and inclusivity for all in our schools, in our communities, and on-line.