Awareness
In Canada, we recognize Pink Shirt Day every year on the third Wednesday in February, and we take this time to raise awareness of the pervasive and insidious nature of bullying, support those who have been victimized by it, and commit ourselves to do our part in creating safe, supportive communities for everyone.
Pink Shit Day is a homegrown, Canadian-made occasion. It was first organized on a local level in 2007, in Nova Scotia, and was officially recognized the following year in British Columbia. From then, it swiftly spread across the country and then the globe; Pink Shirt Day is now a national event in Canada and is recognized in over 110 other countries around the world. Aside from Canada, Pink Shirt Day is only officially observed in one other country: New Zealand, where it is held on the third Friday of May.
The history of Pink Shirt Day is quite interesting, and if you are interested in a detailed look, the CPHS’s blog post from last year has a more comprehensive overview of the story. The journey of Pink Shirt Day is at its core a story about the phenomenal power of compassion, and how easily kindness can spread and grow, and it’s a reminder of how small actions are.
The common idea of bullying is that of something obvious, and relegated to school settings, but this definition excludes a great deal from the conversation. According to Public Safety Canada, bullying is ‘acts of intentional harm repeated over time in a relationship where a power imbalance exists.” This definition neatly encapsulates the reality that people of any age, anywhere, can be bullied in countless different ways. Public Safety Canada further broadly categorizes bullying into three distinct types; physical bullying, where direct physical harm is visited upon someone’s body or belongings; verbal bullying, where cruel words or social dynamics are used to cause harm; and cyberbullying, where the power of technology is weaponized in a form of bullying that cannot be escaped as easily as leaving a physical space.
Despite recent efforts—including Pink Shirt Day—to raise awareness of the importance of putting a stop to bullying, it remains a huge challenge to all people in Canada. According to the Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, seventy-one percent of youth between 12 and 17 years old have reported at least one instance of bullying in the past year. Of those, forty-two percent encounter bullying monthly. There is also a large discrepancy between what people in positions of power say they are doing to address bullying, and how those who experience it feel. While seventy-one percent of teachers say they act against bullying, only twenty-five percent of students agree with them. Teachers aren’t the only ones who can fail to act—eighty-five percent of bullying happens with bystanders nearby, and although fifty-seven percent of bullying will stop within ten seconds if a bystander intervenes, many of them choose not to get involved. Bullying also tends to be influenced by broader social conflicts such as race, gender, class, disability, and identity; 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, for example, face far higher risks of bullying than those who don’t identify as such.
For many 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and adults, bullying isn’t just an occasional issue, it’s something they face regularly. According to Egale Canada, nearly two-thirds of 2SLGBTQIA+ students feel unsafe at school, and discrimination can follow them into workplaces and public spaces. So, how do we make sure Pink Shirt Day sparks real change? Here are some ideas:
1. Creating Welcoming Spaces, Every Day
Pink Shirt Day is a reminder to think about how inclusive our spaces are. Schools and workplaces can:
- Make sure anti-bullying policies address homophobic and transphobic bullying
- Create environments where people feel comfortable using their chosen names and pronouns
- Include 2SLGBTQIA+ voices in school curriculums and workplace discussions
2. Giving People the Confidence to Speak Up
Bullying continues when no one speaks up. The more people feel confident stepping in, the harder it is for bullying to continue. Ways to encourage this include:
- Teaching practical ways to stand up for someone without escalating conflict.
- For example, teaching students to step in with simple actions, like saying, ‘Let’s grab lunch together,’ helps support the person being bullied without escalating the situation. This approach redirects attention and provides a safe way to step in.
- Making it easier for people to report bullying safely and anonymously
- Encouraging kindness—not just in grand gestures, but in everyday interactions
3. Supporting Organizations That Do the Work
Some organizations work year-round to support 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals. Whether it’s donating, volunteering, or simply spreading awareness, here are a few worth checking out:
- Egale Canada – Advocates for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights and offers resources
- Pflag Canada – Provides peer support for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and their families
- Canadian Pride Historical Society (CPHS) – Shares and preserves the history of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities in Canada, helping to promote understanding and inclusivity through education and storytelling
- Local 2SLGBTQIA+ youth groups and shelters that help those facing discrimination or homelessness
4. Making Sure the Conversation Doesn’t End
Pink Shirt Day should be a starting point, not a one-day event. Ongoing efforts can include:
- Attending inclusive workshops or suggesting them for schools and workplaces
- Encouraging discussions about equity and diversity in daily life
- Supporting anti-bullying initiatives beyond just wearing a pink shirt once a year
Although many people consider bullying to be something only children deal with, adults face bullying just the same. Forty percent of Canadian adults experience bullying in the workplace weekly, and yet many might not report it due to cultural blindness about adult bullying.
Regardless of age, bullying has a massive impact on our individual and collective health as a society. Victims of bullying are at higher risks of developing mental health challenges, falling behind in their education or work, becoming more isolated, dealing with physical symptoms of distress, or even experiencing suicidal thoughts. Bullying is a serious and insidious problem across Canada, and the very best thing we can do to stop it in its tracks is to not only be aware of it but also commit ourselves to intervening whenever we encounter bullying in our communities.
Everyone has the intrinsic right to safe, kind spaces and communities, and it is up to all of us to ensure that reality. Pink Shirt Day reminds us of this and implores us to keep in mind that standing up for what’s right or even providing simple gestures of support or compassion are some of the most important things we can do as people. Kindness is a choice, but as human beings who live together in society, it’s always worth choosing.
