Our 2023 Pink Shirt Day design was inspired by moments of kindness, empathy and understanding that can mean so much to children impacted by bullying. For bullied kids, it can be hard to know where to turn. But a helping and supportive hand can make a world of difference! Remember that whether it's sending a check-in text, calling out bullying behaviour when you see it, or simply offering your support, there are so many ways we can all help and connect with people being bullied. Let's Lift Each Other Up this Pink Shirt Day, and all year round!

https://www.pinkshirtday.ca/

Indigenous Pink Shirt

Join the cause and stand up against bullying with our Indigenous Pink Shirt designed by a Canadian artist. 

https://indigenouspinkshirt.com/

You may be aware of the occasion, but did you know it began in Canada?

Here is part of the original Sept. 2007 CBC News report:

Two Nova Scotia students are being praised across North America for the way they turned the tide against the bullies who picked on a fellow student for wearing pink.

The victim, a Grade 9 boy, wore a pink polo shirt on his first day of school. Bullies harassed the boy, called him a homosexual for wearing pink and threatened to beat him up.

Two Grade 12 students — David Shepherd and Travis Price — heard the news and decided to take action.
"I just figured enough was enough," said Shepherd. They went to a nearby discount store and bought 50 pink shirts… to wear to school the next day. Then the two went online to e-mail classmates to get them on board with their anti-bullying cause that they dubbed a "sea of pink."

But a tsunami of support poured in the next day. Not only were dozens of students outfitted with the discount tees, but hundreds of students showed up wearing their own pink clothes, some head-to-toe. When the bullied student… walked into school to see fellow students decked out in pink...it was a powerful moment. "It looked like there was a big weight lifted off his shoulders….”said Shepherd.

There's been nary a peep from the bullies since, which Shepherd says just goes to show what a little activism will do.

In 2008 Premier Gordon Campbell recognized Anti-Bullying Day in BC.  Christy Clark has been a big supporter in both her talk show and her website. The International STAND UP to Bullying Day is actually a bi-annual event (February and November) with 25 countries participating. The official date is usually the last Wednesday in February.

Bullying can show itself in many forms, and usually when teachers aren’t present. One program my school utilizes is called “using your WITTS”.  It provides a strategy for times when students have problems on the playground. It also gives peers a common language to use when trying to help.

W= walk away, I= ignore, T= tell them to stop, Talk= talk about solutions, S= seek help

Want to get involved with your own pink shirt or button? They cost about $10, with proceeds going to children's groups that deal with self-esteem issues. They are available online or through sponsors such as London Drugs.

bc211 is a Vancouver-based nonprofit organization that specializes in providing information, referral, and help line services.
http://bc211.ca/
Online resources
https://bc.211.ca/

Bullying: Facing History and Ourselves
https://www.facinghistory.org/search?keys=bullying

Scholastic.com

https://choices.scholastic.com/pages/content-hubs/anti-bullying-and-harassment-prevention.html

https://www.scholastic.com/parents/school-success/school-success-guides/parent-guide-to-bullying.html

https://www.scholastic.com/parents/family-life/social-emotional-learning/social-skills-for-kids/bullying-and-teasing-no-laughing-matter.html

Information by a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating users of connected technology about safety, privacy and security
https://www.connectsafely.org/safety-tips-advice/

K-12 Internet Resource Center – resources
Search Results for “bullying” – K-12 Internet Resource Center (k12irc.org)

Education Development Center, Inc.
(EDC)—a leading global nonprofit organization established in 1958
http://eyesonbullying.org/

Open Colleges - Strategies for Educators
http://opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/15-strategies-educators-can-use-to-stop-cyberbullying/

Bullying Prevention: Edutopia
https://www.edutopia.org/topic/bullying-prevention

Cyberbullying (Lots of information here, including definitions, laws, suggestions, social media etc.)
https://backgroundchecks.org/cyber-bullying-helping-the-bullied-stopping-the-bullies.html

Bullying hotlines and resource center (BRIM software company)
https://antibullyingsoftware.com/anti-bullying-hotlines-in-the-us-and-canada/
https://antibullyingsoftware.com/the-definition-of-bullying-for-kids/

University of Dayton's School of Law online programs
https://onlinelaw.udayton.edu/resources/how-much-privacy-do-you-have-online/

How to keep your children safe online: A guide for the non-techie parent
https://pixelprivacy.com/resources/keep-children-safe-online/

 How to Deal With Bullying Targeting Autistic Children
Elemy, a provider of in-home and online applied behavior analysis
How to Deal With Bullying Targeting Autistic Children (elemy.com)

Anti-bullying alliance
https://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/

“The Parents’ Guide to Teaching your Teen Online Safety” from "MyTutor"
https://www.mytutor.co.uk/blog/the-parents-guide-to-teaching-your-teen-online-safety/