Red Cross needs heroes
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This article was published 03/12/2018 (2499 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The Canadian Red Cross is focused on the power of bystanders in preventing bullying with its Pink Day 2019 slogan, “Be Someone’s Hero.”
Pink Day takes place on Feb. 27, 2019 and is a province-wide event focused on quashing bullying in schools and workplaces. The theme and official T-shirt for next year’s event was unveiled at the Red Cross’ Winnipeg headquarters (1111 Portage Ave.) on Nov. 20.
“Be someone’s hero is really to look at talking about what we can do within schools and workplaces to be inclusive and create safe environments,” said Carolyn Labossiere, representative for the organization’s Respect Education program.
Next year will be the eighth time Red Cross has hosted Pink Day in Manitoba.
Each year, hundreds of schools and workplaces across the province take part in a full day of education sessions and activities geared towards bullying prevention.
Labossiere says it’s important to get adults and professionals involved in the event because bullying can extend beyond the school yard.
“This isn’t an issue that just happens in schools, it’s a community issue and for us to work together and have adults really role model those safe workplaces is really important,” she said.
Schools and students from kindergarten to Grade 12 are also invited to submit a short 30 to 60 second anti-bullying film to the Red Cross’ Pink Day Film Festival. Films can be submitted until Feb. 13, 2019 and the winning selection will be posted to the Red Cross’ YouTube channel.
The film fest has been running for five years and Labossiere says it is an opportunity for students to talk about bullying in their own words.
“Giving students a voice and a space to create action and to get involved in that leadership piece and create change in their school is really powerful for them,” she said.
Visit redcross.ca/pink to register for Pink Day 2019. T-shirts can be ordered online and are available for $8 for schools and $20 for workplaces — all proceeds go towards local Red Cross bullying prevention programs.