Schools and different groups in Ponoka ‘went pink’ Feb. 26 to celebrate Pink Shirt Day, an international awareness day to stand up against bullying.
Ponoka Elementary School held an assembly and students were invited to wear pink in support of the event.
The Ponoka Youth Centre also took part in the event, selling t-shirts in the weeks leading up to the day that were designed by their own Torch Leadership Club.
The ‘Pepto’ pink shirts read, “Be a Buddy, Not a Bully.”
One hundred shirts with the one-of-a-kind logo were ordered and were sold as a fundraiser. Most were gone by Feb. 25.
The theme this year was “Lift each other up,” encouraging kids to take their kindness to new heights and “celebrate the things that make us unique,” according to pinkshirtday.ca.
“We all have a responsibility to address bullying when we see it happen,” said Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Community and Social Services, in a Government of Alberta press release.
“This Pink Shirt Day, we are working with communities across Alberta to promote healthy relationships and spread awareness of the services available to those in need.”
“Our government supports safe schools that are free from bullying and prejudice,” said Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Education, in the release.
“Wearing pink shows the importance of promoting healthy relationships and actively working towards creating learning and work environments that are safe and free from bullying.”
