Pink flooded 91大黄鸭鈥檚 Laurel Packinghouse for the sixth annual Pink Shirt Day breakfast hosted by the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs on Feb. 26.
Pink Shirt Day started 13 years ago in Nova Scotia when David Shepherd and Travis Price noticed a fellow student being bullied for wearing pink. The campaign鈥檚 theme for this year is 鈥淟ift Each Other Up.鈥�
It has since grown and is celebrated throughout Canada and internationally.
Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs CEO Diane Entwistle said the Pink Shirt Day breakfast is a great opportunity to bring the community together to talk about kindness.
鈥淚n the past, we鈥檝e talked about how this is an anti-bullying day but over the years, our message has change to be one that鈥檚 more positive,鈥� she said.
鈥淏ecause the best antidote to bullying is actually kindness and compassion, empathy and lifting each other up as opposed to tearing each other down.鈥�
Students Emma Pollard and Katie Carter talked about what the day meant to them.
鈥淚t鈥檚 making sure that everyone knows that we care about them and that they鈥檙e welcome in every friend group,鈥� Carter said.
鈥淭o me, it鈥檚 showing kindness towards others and making everyone feel included so nobody鈥檚 left out,鈥� Pollard said.
Addison Kotak and Isabel Ruehle said the day is a reminder to help stop bullying.
鈥淚t means reaching out to those who are being bullied and not (just) talking to them, but letting them know you鈥檙e there for them and having that comfort for them,鈥� Kotak said.
鈥淭his day just helps those who are having a hard time so their emotions can get out there and they can reach out for help,鈥� Ruehle said.
READ MORE: Pink Shirt Day campaign urges Canadians to 鈥楲ift Each Other Up鈥�
