Pink Shirt Day was a huge success yet again this year.
On Wednesday (Feb. 22), The BGC Fort Saskatchewan crew took to the North Central Co-op Food Store for a special day to highlight the anti-bullying movement in our community.
Dozens of children were in attendance for the event, which included cupcakes, a cheque presentation, and even a proclamation from Gale Katchur, mayor of Fort Saskatchewan.
"What I love about the shirt this year is it says, 'choose kindness'," Katchur said. "Kindness doesn't cost a thing, but when you're mean it's going to cost you because people aren't going to like you."
Every year, BGC has a contest where members can create a pink shirt design. The featured shirt this year was created by 16-year-old Shelan Richardson, who said that she has been the victim of bullying herself.
"When I was younger, there was a boy who thought it would be a good idea to pick on me because I was a little smaller than he was. This went on for years on end, and one day I'd finally had enough," Richardson says. "With all the little sass I could muster, I finally stood up to him. By the end of it, he was speechless. Powerless, even."
"I decided that if anyone ever made me feel less than ever again, I would laugh, shrug it off, and embrace my differences."
After some speeches, Co-op staff presented BGC Fort Saskatchewan with a cheque for $5,000. BGC was also in the giving mood, gifting pink shirts signed by their members to Winner's Way and Families First, the latter of which won the Paint the Town Pink initiative.
"I could list all the ways to thank the people I've met through the years attending BGC," Richardson said. "But by that time, it would be the next Pink Shirt Day, and I'd have to start all over again."