Pink Shirt Day originated in Halifax, Nova Scotia back in 2008 with two high school aged students that saw a need to be kind while another student was not being treated with kindness and respect. That one act of compassion quickly spread beyond the school. In 2008, British Columbia’s provincial government proclaimed a provincial Anti-Bullying Day in February, and over time the idea of wearing pink to stand against bullying spread throughout Canada and then internationally. Today, Pink Shirt Day is observed annually in Canada on the last Wednesday of February.

Pink Shirt Day is now a national and global movement that encourages people of all ages to:

• Wear pink as a visible symbol of support for kindness, inclusion, and respect for others.
• Raise awareness and start conversations about why bullying is harmful and what we can do to prevent it.
• Raise funds for programs that help children and youth build healthy self-esteem, resilience, and safe environments.

The Calgary Board of Education recognizes Pink Shirt Day across all schools and offers professional learning and classroom resources that support a strength-based approach to well-being, emphasizing schoolwide and classroom supports for students. As an organization, through Pink Shirt Day we honour the grassroots act of kindness and reaffirm our shared commitment to reducing bullying and creating welcoming, caring safe and respectful spaces for everyone.

Promoting inclusion is something that occurs in our schools every day. Check out some of the information and resources available!