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Pink Shirt Day to be shared virtually in Weyburn schools

Pink Shirt Day will be marked in Weyburn’s schools, and across Canada, on Wednesday, Feb. 24, and singer Karissa Hoffart will be doing a virtual concert to share with the students on that family to help encourage students to be kinder to each other.
SaskToday
Karissa Hoffart

Pink Shirt Day will be marked in Weyburn’s schools, and across Canada, on Wednesday, Feb. 24, and singer Karissa Hoffart will be doing a virtual concert to share with the students on that family to help encourage students to be kinder to each other.

“We really want to continue with our Pink Day traditions, just a little different this year. Karissa seemed like a good choice as she is local and works to inspire youth. She will be performing to the elementary schools in Weyburn over Microsoft Teams,” said Weyburn organizer teacher Dara Uhren of Queen Elizabeth School.

“Each classroom will join and listen to the performance and her message. Although it won’t be the same as a live performance we believe it is the next best thing. She is scheduled for Feb. 24. This will be in addition to the work teachers are doing in their own classrooms to support diversity and kindness,” said Uhren.

The positive and encouraging message of Pink Shirt Day reminds us that we are not alone, and although we may not be joining in large social groups there is strength by working together to spread awareness of important social issues during these challenging times.

This day originated from an incident in 2007, when two Nova Scotia students decided to take action after witnessing a younger student being bullied for wearing a pink shirt to school. The students bought 50 pink T-shirts and encouraged schoolmates to wear them and send a powerful message of solidarity to the bully.

The latest statistics from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research indicate that 47 per cent of Canadian parent’s report having a child victim of bullying. The most common types of bullying experienced by youth today are verbal, social, physical, or cyber. And with everyone moving to online activities and courses there is an increased risk for cyber-bullying making it the most common form of bullying. Falling on February 24th, Pink Shirt Day has become a national movement which sees thousands of Canadians showing their support for safe and inclusive schools, workplaces and communities.