Wear pink on February 23 in support of Pink Shirt Day

15 February 2022

Whether fuchsia, bubble gum, salmon, magenta, coral or all of the above, the City of Richmond is encouraging everyone to wear pink on Wednesday, February 23 to help raise awareness and take a stand against bullying.

“Join others on Pink Shirt Day to show that everyone has the right to feel safe, accepted and respected,” said Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “Wearing pink demonstrates commitment – on this day and all days to end discrimination, bullying, harassment, intimidation and violence.”

The City of Richmond, Richmond School District No. 38 and Richmond Public Library are recognizing Pink Shirt Day in a variety of ways.

Richmond facilities and staff are offering the following ways to show and encourage kindness throughout the community:

• Window and lobby displays will be created at community centres
  
• Themed stories, songs, art activities and conversations focusing on kindness, friendship and diversity will take place during Preschool and Out of School Care programs
  
• Interactive projects will be provided at community centres for the public to write kindness-themed messages on banners and bulletin boards
  
• A local artist will be at Hamilton Community Centre to create an interactive artwork around the theme of “Be the ‘I’ in Kind”
  
• Richmond Public Library will compile a list of books about kindness and friendship to help start discussions with young children
  
• Richmond Fire-Rescue duty crews will be wearing pink epaulettes on their uniform on February 23
  
• Social media messaging will be posted about kindness, connection, celebrating diversity and embracing each other’s differences.

In 2007, on his first day of Grade 12, Travis Price learned that a Grade 9 student had been bullied for wearing a pink shirt. He and his friend David Shepherd convinced hundreds of their fellow students to wear pink clothes to school the next day, creating an annual campaign now known as Pink Shirt Day and sparking an international anti-bullying movement.

For more information about the City’s Pink Shirt Day, visit www.richmond.ca/youthinitiatives. Share your commitment and follow along on social media with the hashtag #RichmondPink.