Pink Shirt Day began in Nova Scotia in 2007 when two Grade 12 students, David Shepherd and Travis Price, decided to take action after a new student was bullied for wearing a pink polo shirt on the first day of school. They bought fifty pink shirts and encouraged their classmates to wear pink in solidarity. To their surprise, majority of the students at their school showed up the next day wearing pink. What started as a simple act of kindness has since grown into a national event celebrated every year.
This story isn’t just about standing up to bullies. It’s about reminding those who are bullied that they are not alone. Acts of allyship, from friends and even strangers, can reduce the harmful effects of bullying by providing support and reducing feelings of isolation.
Having experienced school bullying myself, I fondly remember finding kindness through my school librarian. To avoid my bullies, I had started hiding in the library during breaks instead of going outside with everyone else. The librarian took notice and befriended me, learning which kinds of books I liked best so she could share exciting new arrivals whenever she could.
Fast forward many years later, and I found myself watching a similar story through Netflix’s Heartstopper. The character Charlie Spring, needing a space to hide from homophobic bullying at his school, finds an ally through his art teacher who lets him spend his lunch breaks in the art room.
Seeing those scenes brought back memories of my own experiences. While the fear and anxiety I felt from being bullied have since faded, I still have fond memories of that school library and can feel a tangible sense of comfort whenever I think about that kind librarian and the books she shared with me.
This year, Pride BCIT invites you to take a stand against bullying this Pink Shirt Day on Wednesday, February 26. Visit our booth at the Burnaby Campus Library in SE14 to participate in some fun activities and get some treats. In addition to wearing Pink, we encourage you to:
- Do a random act of kindness
- Send positive messages to your peers
- Visit the BCIT Library to access anti-bullying resources such as articles, eBooks, and even the graphic novels for Heartstopper
BCIT provides support and resources for those affected by bullying through BCIT Counselling and Student Development, BCIT Safety and Security, BCIT Early Assist, and several Free Online Learning courses, including Navigating Conflict in Working and Learning Environments.