Wednesday, February 22, 2023 is Pink Shirt Day in the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board. On Pink Shirt Day, students and staff are encouraged to wear pink to raise awareness about bullying and to promote a culture of safety and inclusivity for all HWCDSB students.
The theme for Pink Shirt Day is once again Lift Each Other Up – “a simple but powerful message encouraging everyone to work together and treat others with dignity and respect,” says Michelle Hayes, HWCDSB Mental Health Lead. “When we lift each other up, we see past the things that separate us and see instead the things that unite us as humans.”
This year, Pink Shirt Day falls on Ash Wednesday, the start of the Lenten season. Calling it a time of interior reflection and an opportunity to draw closer to God, Hayes adds, “There is no better time to reflect the light and hope of Jesus Christ in our schools and classrooms by raising awareness about bullying and our need to live as Christ lived.”
The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board is committed to building welcoming, safe and inclusive classrooms and schools where bullying, in any form, is not tolerated, she adds.
“As Catholic school communities are created in God’s image, may our wearing of pink be a symbol of our collective expression of love, hope, and peace.”
For more information on Pink Shirt Day, visit https://www.pinkshirtday.ca/.
