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Students sport pink for international anti-bullying campaign

Pink power was in full force at Superior Collegiate and Vocational Institute Wednesday.
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Student at Superior Collegiate and Vocational Institute participated in the Day of Pink Wednesday. (Jodi Lundmark, tbnewswatch.com)

Pink power was in full force at Superior Collegiate and Vocational Institute Wednesday.

The High Street high school's gay-straight alliance hosted a variety of activities on the International Day Against Bullying, Discrimination, Homophobia and Transphobia.

"We want to make everyone feel welcome at Superior," said Grade 12 student Violet Cross.

Students were encouraged to wear pink and write a positive message about diversity and acceptance on the windows of the school office. They also had an anti-bullying quiz and handed out pink lemonade.

The Grade 12 visual arts class and welding class contributed art projects to the school's Celebration Garden in the foyer.

Cross said she thinks having the Pink Day celebrations have definitely made a difference in the level of acceptance she's seen in the school, but she said transphobic bullying is still an issue.

GSA staff adviser Shelly Cameron it's important for students to be able to stand up to bullying and show respect to all of their classmates.

"To make everyone feel safe and included in the school and to show them we all stand up together," she said.

Cameron has seen an increase in the number of students that participate in the Day of Pink every year and recognizing the initiative creates discussion amongst the students.

"It's definitely in their minds. They're thinking about it," she said.

While the event is a one-day celebration, Cameron said there are anti-bullying initiatives taking place throughout the school year.

The Day of Pink started in 2007 when two Nova Scotia high school students saw another student being bullied for wearing a pink shirt; they rallied other students to wear pink shirts the next day and stopped the bullying in their school.

 



Jodi Lundmark

About the Author: Jodi Lundmark

Jodi Lundmark got her start as a journalist in 2006 with the Thunder Bay Source. She has been reporting for various outlets in the city since and took on the role of editor of Thunder Bay Source and assistant editor of Newswatch in October 2024.
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