Premier David Eby has issued the following statement marking Pink Shirt Day:

“Today is Pink Shirt Day, a day for all of us to celebrate kindness and work together against bullying.

“In 2007, two Nova Scotia high school students encouraged classmates to wear pink in support of a boy who had been teased for wearing a pink shirt. This act of solidarity inspired Pink Shirt Day, which is observed on the last Wednesday in February every year as Canada’s official anti-bullying day.

“Bullying is still far too common. According to the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, 71% of Canadian youth, ages 12 to 17, experienced at least one form of bullying in the previous reporting year. One in four reported being cyberbullied.

“Our government is committed to making sure that every student in every community in B.C. feels safe and supported – at school and at home.

“The Erase (expect respect and a safe education) program is dedicated to helping students, adults and school staff build safe, caring and inclusive school communities, and offers resource support for diversity and inclusion, mental health and substance use, and school and online safety.

“Recognizing the significant harms that can result from online harassment and cyberbullying, we launched services to remove images from the internet and pursue predators who share images without consent.

“We invested nearly $75 million over three years to enhance and expand Foundry services in the province. Foundry provides integrated health and wellness services for young people, ages 12 to 24, and allows young people to access mental-health care, substance-use services, physical and sexual health care, youth and family peer supports, and social services all in one location.

“In B.C., we celebrate the diversity that makes our province strong and vibrant. There’s no place for bullying in schools, on the streets or at home.”

Lisa Beare, Minister of Education and Child Care, said:

“On the 18th anniversary of Pink Shirt Day, we join British Columbians taking a stand against bullying. Every MLA who celebrates this day recognizes our immense responsibility to do the work that keeps every child in B.C. safe.

“Alongside our partners, we continue the critical work to make schools free from bullying and discrimination. Together, we must ensure that we create the environment where all B.C. students feel safe, cared for and included, so they can be their authentic selves at school and thrive out in the world.

“Both as a minister and a parent, I am proud to celebrate this day. Now more than ever, we need everyone to come together to stand up to bullies.”