CORNWALL, Ontario – The community adorned their pink attire to celebrate the ninth annual Boys and Girls Club Pink Shirt Day on Wednesday, Feb. 27.
The goal of Pink Shirt Day is to spread positive, anti-bullying messages. This year’s specially designed shirts were created by Nilany Thanabalasinham, a grade 10 CCVS student.
“Pink Shirt Day has been going really well. All of our seven sites are doing really cool anti-bullying activities,” said Lacey Loynachan, Boys and Girls Club Program Manager.
Loynachan explained that in all after school programs with the club, children practice anti-bullying exercises and learn how to proactively speak with a bully.
“Bullying is an issue everywhere within the schools and it moves from the schools to here,” said Loynachan. “This is a bully free zone and there are consequences for children who bully.”
Loynachan said that bullying has changed with social media and sees youth within the teen program struggling with cyber bullying. To teach students how to deal with this type of bullying, community partners like the Cornwall Police Service will host discussions and presentations about the topic.
“Don’t be a bully, be the better person,” said Loynachan.
