Brandon students speak out on bullying at legislature

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This article was published 26/2/2014 (1267 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon University students dropped by the Legislative Building today, wrapped in an anti-bullying message big enough to cover a bus.

The students brought with them a massive blanket loaded with signatures in support of the anti-bullying campaign. The blanket, which took over 70 hours to create, has more than 7,000 names on it, contains approximately 14,000 feet of thread and measures 32 by 42 feet.

"The goal of the anti-bullying blanket is to bring awareness of the need for more effective anti-bullying programming in schools for children under the age of 12," Krystal Kane, chair of the Brandon University Anti-Bullying Society, said in a release. "It signifies security and comfort, and that's what we want for all children. It's also an opportunity for people to offer words of encouragement to those being bullied so they know they're not alone."

Today is also national pink shirt day, which raises awareness and encourages people to step in when they see bullying taking place.

The idea came from two Nova Scotia teens who saw another student being bullied because he was wearing a pink shirt. They encouraged their classmates to wear pink shirts to take a stand against bullying.

"We all share a responsibility to create safe schools where students feel respected and able to reach their full potential," Education and Advanced Learning Minister James Allum said in a release.

Manitoba's anti-bullying action plan includes a new provincial code of conduct with clear and appropriate disciplinary consequences for bullying incidents, as well as resources and supports to help educate youth, teachers and parents identify and prevent bullying.