Today, Feb. 28, is Pink Shirt Day, a day to raise awareness about the ills and scourge of bullying. The idea behind it began back in 2007 when two high school students in Berwick, Nova Scotia SA国际影视传媒� Davis Shepherd and Travis Price SA国际影视传媒� organized a protest of sorts after seeing a Grade 9 student at their school be bullied for wearing a pink shirt to school.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 now taken off worldwide and that includes here in Yellowknife. Several schools will be organizing events to mark the occasion, including Mildred Hall School. They have a full day planned and it begins with a school-wide assembly this morning, said Ryan Nichols, the schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 vice-principal.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e purchased hoodies for the teachers and T-shirts for the students to wear,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檒l pass those out and talk about the meaning of the shirt and why itSA国际影视传媒檚 important. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e a pretty welcoming school to anyone, no matter their background of if theySA国际影视传媒檙e new to the city or if theySA国际影视传媒檝e been here for years.SA国际影视传媒�

Once everyone is decked out in their shirts, Nichols said there will be a full group photo and the students will take part in activities in their classes.

The last portion of the day will be spent playing whatSA国际影视传媒檚 known as Kindness Bingo, he added.

SA国际影视传媒淎ll of the classes will log into Google Meet and one of our PSTs (personal support teachers) will act as the caller,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e have prizes for anyone who gets a bingo, but everyone will end up getting something when itSA国际影视传媒檚 all done.SA国际影视传媒�

There has been very little problem with bullying at the school, said Nichols, and if it happens, itSA国际影视传媒檚 dealt with swiftly.

At Sir John Franklin High School, the staff will be dressed in pink, but thatSA国际影视传媒檚 not all, said Angels Martin, head of the schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 student services department.

SA国际影视传媒淲e also have our Indigenous languages month-end event, where thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a short film festival at lunch,SA国际影视传媒漵he said.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 the first year the schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 doing this film festival, Martin explained; she added the idea came from her Grade 9 students.

Martin also said that her school has been celebrating Pink Shirt Day for the 12 years sheSA国际影视传媒檚 been there

Still, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 always been an effort to make her school a bully-free zone.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e been working really hard with our student body to make our school a safe place. We are wearing pink in support of inclusivity and kindness,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Even with everything thatSA国际影视传媒檚 been talked about when it comes to bullying, said Nichols, there shouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be a need for a day such as this.

SA国际影视传媒淏eing kind is something we should all be striving for, but weSA国际影视传媒檙e still doing (Pink Shirt Day),SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 all about getting the message across and making sure everyone knows that itSA国际影视传媒檚 wrong.SA国际影视传媒�