Pink Shirt Day

For the day against anti-LGBTQ+ bullying, see International Day of Pink.
Pink Shirt Day
Observed byCanada, New Zealand
DateLast Wednesday of February (Canada)[1]
Third Friday of May (New Zealand)[2]
FrequencyAnnual
First timeSeptember 13, 2007 (2007-09-13)
Started byDavid Shepherd and Travis Price

Pink Shirt Day is an annual event against bullying held in Canada and New Zealand.[1][2] Participants wear pink shirts and attend or host informative events to raise awareness about bullying, particularly in schools. Pink Shirt Day was started in 2007 in Canada, where it is held on the last Wednesday of February each year.[3] It was adopted in New Zealand in 2009 and is observed annually on the third Friday of May.[3]

History

The original event was organized in 2007 by two grade 12 students named David Shepherd and Travis Price of Berwick, Nova Scotia, who bought and distributed 50 pink shirts after a ninth-grade student Chuck McNeill was bullied for wearing a pink polo shirt during the first day of school at Central Kings Rural High School in Cambridge, Nova Scotia.[4][5] That year, former Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald proclaimed the second Thursday of September (aligning with the start of each school year) as "Stand Up Against Bullying Day" in recognition of these events.[6]

In 2008, then-Premier of British Columbia, Gordon Campbell proclaimed February 27 to be the provincial Anti-Bullying Day.[7] In 2009, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada worked on pink t-shirts that say "Bullying Stops Here." and "Pink Shirt Day" for Anti-Bullying Day.[8]

In May 2009, New Zealand celebrated its first Pink Shirt Day.[3]

In 2012, the United Nations declared May 4 as U.N. Anti-Bullying Day.[9] Similarly, UNESCO declared the first Thursday of November as the International Day against Violence and Bullying at School Including Cyberbullying.[10]

Purpose

Anti-Bullying Day was instituted to prevent further bullying. The United States Department of Justice showed that one out of four kids will be bullied during their adolescence.[11]

This remains an important issue, as studies in Canada show that a large proportion of youth experience bullying, particularly sexually and gender diverse groups, and that bullying is associated with increased stress and negative physical and mental health outcomes.[12]

Activities

Anti-Bullying Day activities can take place at schools, workplaces, or any peer group location. They may include "abolishing bullying" rallies, information and networking booths to help the community in understanding the evils of bullying, and publicizing anti-discrimination organizations. Examples include Blue Shirt World Day of Bullying Prevention, National Bullying awareness month, and Pink Shirt Day. Other features include handouts, resources, and information promoting the message of the "National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence". Examples of other activities include races, conferences, video-creating competitions such as the "ScreenIt!" and the "Back me up" competitions, and community events, all used to spread awareness of bullying and violence, The initiative seeks to support the work of students, educators, community and business in their efforts to stop bullying, discrimination, homophobia and transphobia.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Pink Shirt Day". Pink T-Shirt Day Society.
  2. ^ a b "Pink Shirt Day". Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.
  3. ^ a b c "About | Pink Shirt Day". www.pinkshirtday.org.nz. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
  4. ^ "Bullied student tickled pink by schoolmates' T-shirt campaign". CBC News. September 19, 2007.
  5. ^ CBC Kids team (February 24, 2021). "What is Pink Shirt Day?".
  6. ^ "Stand Up Against Bullying Day Proclaimed". Province of Nova Scotia. 2007.
  7. ^ Fowlie, Jonathan (2008). "Wear pink to fight bullying, minister says". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on 2008-03-05.
  8. ^ "Province Declares Anti-Bullying Day". 2009-02-23. Archived from the original on 28 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
  9. ^ "Anti Bullying Day". 2012.
  10. ^ UNESCO (2020-11-12). "International day against violence and bullying at school including cyberbullying". UNESCO. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
  11. ^ S.P. Limber, P. Cunningham, V. Florx, J. Ivey, M. Nation, S. Chai, and G. Melton, "Bullying among school children: Preliminary findings from a school-based intervention program," paper presented at the Fifth International Family Violence Research Conference, Durham, NH, June/July 1997.
  12. ^ "Pink Shirt Day: Raising awareness about bullying in Canada". Statistics Canada. 2024-02-13. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  • Pink Shirt Day — The aim of CKNW Kids' Fund's Pink Shirt Day is to raise awareness of bullying in schools, workplaces, homes and online. The organisation also looks to raise funds to support programmes and facilities to foster children's health self-esteem.
  • Pink T-Shirt Day Society
  • Stomp Out Bullying — Stomp Out Bullying is a non-profit organisation aimed to change the culture for all students both kids and teens with inclusion,. The organisation dedicated itself to eradicate bullying against all walk of life through education on racism, homophobia, LGBTQ and discrimination. The organisation provides help to those at risk of bullying and suicide though close peer mentoring, events and social media out reach programmes.
  • Bullying No Way
  • Erase Bullying — Erase aims to strengthen school communities through building safer environments through empowering key figures in the community such as parents, students and educators. The organisations aims to erase, cyber-bullying whilst encouraging mental health and well-being.
  • Pacer's National Bullying Prevention Center — PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center was founded in 2006. The aim of the organisation was to introduce social change by preventing childhood bullying ensuring the youth are safe and in connection with the necessary support within school and communities.
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