OLDS — Lauren MacMullen, director of Youth, Community, and Family Services, at BGC Olds and Area is pleased with the way residents support Pink Shirt Day.
This year, Feb. 26 is Pink Shirt Day -- a nationally recognized day in Canada to show support for those who are bullied or belittled in any way.
In 2007, an east coast Grade 9 student wore a pink polo shirt to school and was harassed by bullies who said he was a homosexual because he wore that shirt.
Two other boys stood up for him. They encouraged their classmates to wear pink shirts to stand up against bullying and the movement took off from there.
“I think within the schools, everybody wears (pink shirts on) Pink Shirt Day. We wear pink here, and we've noticed our parents are making sure that their children have pink to wear,” MacMullen said.
“It's showing that we stand with the people, we're here to listen and if you're being bullying bullied, you're not alone in this community.”
MacMullen said support for Pink Shirt Day and what it stands for seems to be as strong as ever.
She noted that paper pink shirts have been sold in several businesses in Olds for $2 each, with proceeds going to anti-bullying and other programs at BGC Olds and Area.
“So I think here in Olds, we do a really good job of making sure that we are all wearing pink, so that we are creating a sense of belonging within our community, standing up against bullying and making sure that people just feel like they are safe here in Olds,” MacMullen said.
She said proof of that support is that attendance at BGC Olds and Area's youth centre in the Community Connection Centre, known as The Zone, has grown.
“We've had an increase of how many youth are coming there, and have that space to come where it's safe,” MacMullen said.
“They're not being picked on, they're not being bullied. They can come hang out there and interact with (other) the youth.”
