The Rocca Sisters Blog

Our community is very important to us, which is why we would like to spread the word about Pink Shirt Day. It occurs on the last Wednesday in February each year and is recognized throughout Canada as Anti-Bullying Day.

Pink Shirt Day first began five years ago in Nova Scotia when two incredible and inspirational high school students, David Shepherd and Travis Price, wore pinks shirts to protest the harassment of a new grade 9 student who was being bullied for wearing a pink shirt on the first day of school. These two students went to a thrift store that night and purchased 50 pink t-shirts, which they distributed to male classmates the next day. They made a conscious decision to stand up for what was right, and to help someone that needed a helping hand. The bully was never heard from again.

Bullying has become a horrible epidemic throughout our community and our country as a whole. With the emergence of social media platforms, it is easier than ever to pick on someone. Bullying may be among the top influences for teenage suicide, as constantly heard on the news with new cases being reported all the time.

We need to stand up as a community and raise awareness that bullying will not be tolerated. Change begins at home. We need to talk to our children and stress the impact that their actions can make on another. We also need to let our kids know that it is important that they communicate if they are being bullied, and that they are not alone. For more information on Pink Shirt Day, visit pinkshirtday.ca. Stand up with us today – we will be wearing our pink shirts, we hope you will be too!