PINK SHIRT DAY - Now a movement celebrated across the globe, Pink Shirt Day has humble beginnings. Inspired by an act of kindness in small-town Nova Scotia, CKNW Kids' Fund, working with partners Boys & Girls Clubs and 980 CKNW, was inspired to raise funds to support anti-bullying programs. Here is a snippet of an article detailing the original incident: “David Shepherd, Travis Price and their teenage friends organized a high-school protest to wear pink in sympathy with a Grade 9 boy who was being bullied [for wearing a pink shirt]…[They] took a stand against bullying when they protested against the harassment of a new Grade 9 student by distributing pink T-shirts to all the boys in their school. ‘I learned that two people can come up with an idea, run with it, and it can do wonders,’ says Mr. Price, 17, who organized the pink protest. ‘Finally, someone stood up for a weaker kid.’ So Mr. Shepherd and some other headed off to a discount store and bought 50 pink tank tops. They sent out message to schoolmates that night, and the next morning they hauled the shirts to school in a plastic bag. As they stood in the foyer handing out the shirts, the bullied boy walked in. His face spoke volumes. ‘It looked like a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders,’ Mr. Price recalled. The bullies were never heard from again.” — Globe & Mail. After David and Travis’ act of kindness in 2007, CKNW was inspired to help other youth affected by bullying, with many staff members wearing pink shirts and collecting funds to support Boys and Girls Clubs. Since then, the idea has only grown each year, with worldwide support and participation. Countries across the globe are now organizing anti-bullying fundraisers of their own, including Japan, New Zealand, China, Panama, and numerous others. In fact, last year alone, people in almost 180 countries shared their support of Pink Shirt Day through social media posts and donations. Pink Shirt Day falls on the last Wednesday of February every year; join us next Pink Shirt Day on February 26th, 2025 in our mission to create a more kind, inclusive world by raising awareness and funds for anti-bullying initiatives.
Connecting with friends online and using social media tools can be fun. But… keep these tips in mind to make smart decisions. Making smart choices can help keep yourself safe. What happens online can have real consequences.
Cyberbullying and Sexting: Online harassment and ‘Sexting’ (sending explicit messages, images or videos) is a serious offence and can result in criminal charges. Sex talk online: Don’t talk about sex online or share images you wouldn’t want the world to see. Think before you share: It’s difficult to remove information once it’s shared. A smartphone app may advertise that what you send will ‘disappear’ in a few seconds. However, you can still take screen captures of that photo, making it last forever.
What does your online reputation say about you? Know what comes up if you Google yourself. Your online reputation is public and will follow you for life. You can bet on future employers ‘Googling’ your name before hiring you. Be socially responsible. Speak up and do the right thing. If you see something you don’t agree with, like cyberbullying, harassment, or threats, tell a trusted adult for advice and/or help. Treat online life like regular life. Remember your values and beliefs. Don’t say anything online that you wouldn’t say to someone’s face.
Protect your privacy online. Post wisely and keep personal details to a minimum. Use privacy settings on social media sites to limit who can see your personal information. Turn off location services. Share your location with only those you know and trust.
A stranger is a stranger. Only accept friend requests from people you know. Not everyone is who they say they are online. You wouldn’t let a stranger into your house, so why open the door to them online to be your friend? What if someone asks for my picture? Only share images you’d be okay with the world seeing. Once something has been shared, you can’t control where it will go next.
Online shopping is convenient and fun, but be careful about providing personal information. When using online services such as PayPal and eBay, double check the web address to ensure you haven’t been directed to a phishing scam (a way of attempting to get sensitive information by disguising as a trustworthy source). Check for security features such as a padlock in the web address bar. If there isn’t one, or if it’s there but not locked, this means that the website’s information is not secure. f you are meeting with someone through a site such as Craigslist to purchase or sell an item, let an adult know so you can discuss safety issues. When filling out a form for a specific service, make sure to do it through that service's website. Do not provide personal information through links or email.
For more info or to get help contact the Centre for Youth Crime Prevention
Resources and tools such as Ask an Expert. Wondering about an issue that’s affecting youth in your community, ask your question to a police officer. Get Cyber Safe, Provides a broad range of information for parents and youth to help them stay safe in the cyber world.
NeedHelpNow.ca provides information to youth who have been impacted by a sexual picture/video being shared online, by email or by text.
Need to report something? Go to www.cybertip.ca or contact your local RCMP.