On Friday, August 16, employees in the three Advantage Wireless locations donned their “Pink Day” t-shirts and took a visible stand against bullying. They will be wearing pink every Friday to show their support for those who have been bullied.

“Pink Day” is a campaign that builds on the worldwide movement started in 2007 when Travis Price and David Shepherd, then in Grade 12, rallied hundreds of students at Central Kings Rural High School to wear pink t-shirts to stand up to bullies who had harassed a younger boy the day before for wearing pink. The provincial government legislated the second Thursday in September to be the official Pink Day in Nova Scotia.

Pinkday.ca offers resources to those who are affected by bullying and also provides a means to generate funds to help prevent bullying through the Canadian Red Cross program RespectED. The RespectED program has been delivered to hundreds of schools and organizations across Canada to prevent to prevent bullying, cyber-bullying and other forms of violence and abuse. Pink Day, with the support of the Canadian Red Cross, plans to launch a national Pink Day.

“Obviously cyber bullying is on our radar, but bullying doesn’t just happen online. We are interested in making a difference for everyone in every situation by drawing attention to the issue, by showing our support to those who have been bullied and by raising money for the bullying prevention programs” said Carl Launt, President of Advantage Wireless.

Pink Day Co-Founder, Paul Kells, applauds the leadership shown by companies like Advantage Wireless “With the support of the business community we can take a stand against bullying and right here in Nova Scotia, where the first pink t-shirts were worn, we will ignite a national campaign that will change the way we understand and deal with bullying at work, at home and at school. Advantage Wireless is setting a great example for their customers and competitors by participating in this project.”

Debra Moore, founding member of Just Us! Coffee Roasters Co-op announced their commitment to stand up to bullying through a partnership with Pinkday.ca. Pinkday.ca offers resources to those who are affected by bullying and also provides a portal to help generate funds for the Canadian Red Cross bullying prevention program RespectED.

Just Us! members and employees purchased pink t-shirts to wear at work to raise awareness of bullying prevention. Each of the four coffee shops and head office will don their pink t-shirts every Friday during the summer and leading up to Nova Scotia’s official Pink Day; the second Thursday in September (September 12, 2013).

“Pink Day is a call to action to the community at large; it allows us to send a visible message to the community that raises awareness about bullying and generates new conversations about respect” says Pink Day Co-Founder, Paul Kells. “We know that a lot of people bully and don’t realize the damage they cause and we also know that it is the people who witness bullying are the ones who can stop it. We will make a difference when by-standers learn what bullying really is, what to do about it and how to address it. Just Us! Coffee is setting a great example for the community by their participation in this project.”

The Just Us! mantra is “people and the planet before profits” and their values include cooperation, community, instinct and justice; setting an example for others, creating a place to work that is free from discrimination, doing what is right and challenging the status quo. Deb Moore, of Just Us! Coffee Roasters Co-op said, “We are proud to participate in this call to action with PinkDay.ca and to raise funds for bullying prevention programs. We encourage other businesses to follow suit and stand up to bullying.”

Jackie Norman, President and CEO of Safety Services Nova Scotia announced their commitment to stand up to bullying through a partnership with Pinkday.ca. The not-for-profit organization’s mission is to deliver world class safety and health service for Nova Scotians though the delivery of programs including occupational health and safety services, road safety services and community safety services for businesses, government and other not for profits.

Safety Services Nova Scotia is the first organization to step forward as a group to support and promote Pink Day. Pinkday.ca offers resources to those who are affected by bullying and also provides a portal to help generate funds for the Canadian Red Cross bullying prevention program RespectED and participating organizations. In this case, Safety Services Nova Scotia will direct their fundraising efforts to support their own health and safety services programs. They have sent information to all their membership to tell them how to get involved.

“This is a win-win for everyone; the site is rich with content for employees and employers impacted by bullying and we can support bullying prevention through donation, but also by wearing pink on September 12” said Jackie Norman, President and CEO of Safety Services Nova Scotia. Those who want to support Safety Services Nova Scotia, should visit their website at www.safetyservicesns.ca and follow the link on Pink Day.

This same fundraising option is available for other not for profits and schools. For more information on how to get involved with Pink Day, contact april@pinkday.ca

Travis Price, founder of pink shirt day, and Paul Kells, founder of Up-Standers, have joined forces to call upon Nova Scotians to stand up to bullying. Today they announced the launch of their call to action website, www.pinkday.ca.

Pink Day builds on the worldwide movement started in 2007 when Price, then in Grade 12 and who had himself been bullied many times, was one of two teens who rallied hundreds of students at his Nova Scotia high school to wear pink t-shirts to school to stand up to bullies who had harassed a younger boy the day before for wearing pink. Pink Day is also the new name he will now attach to Pink Shirt Day, scheduled for September 12 across Nova Scotia.

Pinkday.ca offers resources to those who are affected by bullying and also provides a portal to help generate funds to help prevent bullying through the Canadian Red Cross program RespectED. These resources, online and in schools, are used successfully each year by hundreds of schools and organizations across Canada to prevent bullying, cyber-bullying and other forms of violence and abuse.

Pinkday.ca is also exploring new options to advance a culture of respect by good people, rather than focusing on the bad guys. As Sheldon Kennedy, a former NHL player and sexual abuse victim says, there will always be bad guys. The difference comes when bystanders learn what bullying really is, what to do about it and how to address it. A key pinkday.ca objective is to begin to share stories from people who have decided to stand up in a positive way to help others, perhaps someone they witnessed being bullied and intervened with. It wants to hear from the bullied who have been helped by the difference someone else made for them by standing up on their behalf, safely. “One of the biggest contributors to the downward emotional spiral from abuse is the isolation of it all” says Travis Price. “We want to try to reverse some of that with examples of people who have made a difference in a supportive, positive way.”

We will raise funds through partial proceeds from merchandise and more from and direct donations. 100 per cent of all direct donations go entirely to Canadian Red Cross bullying prevention programs. 25% of all merchandise sales go to participating schools, teams or other groups with Canadian Red Cross receiving 40% of that.

Pink apparel is available to order through the website, but schools and organizations are urged to contact organizers to get involved in group orders. Orders must be in by June 3 for the shirts to be delivered in time for Pink Day on September 12.

“Bullying awareness and prevention is not just applicable to children; it exists everywhere people live, learn, work and play,” said Paul Kells. “Studies are telling us that it is the bystanders – those who see what is happening – who can make the biggest difference. We must educate people about how to prevent and deal with bullying and show our support to those who are bullied and those who witness it. One of the main objectives of this campaign is to generate new conversations between adults and their children about respect. It is for everyone time to stand up, not just young people.”

Price currently works for the Canadian Red Cross, promoting its RespectED program and Pink Day events, and speaking to youth across Canada about his own experiences with bullying and how they can help prevent or stop it. “This pinkday.ca initiative gives everyone the opportunity to participate and very visibly take a stand,” said Price. “Bullying happens in school, but it also happens at work. And it happens year round. Every day is pink day.”

Kells created Up-standers last year as a network of people committed to safe and respectful workplaces and schools, with the goal of preventing bullying and injuries through public awareness, direct interventions, promoting research and online solutions. Travis Price is a member of the Up-Standers team. The two of them are speaking together as Up-Standers at Pier 21 on May 6 at 2:00 as part of opening North American Occupational Health and Safety week in Nova Scotia.

Previously, Kells founded Safe Communities Canada, Threads of Life and Passport to Safety online challenge following the death of his 19-year-old son in a workplace explosion. More than a half million young Canadians, including thousands of Nova Scotia teenagers, have completed the Passport program since 2004.