First responders launch campaign against bullying
First responders and law enforcement officers are showing their commitment to end bullying by wearing a specially designed pink uniform pin.
“We are the responders that see the ramifications of bullying by going to calls of violence or selfdestructive behaviour,” Sgt. Maj. Adrian Marr of the Alberta Fish and Wildlife enforcement branch, told a media launch Thursday at Big Brothers Big Sisters, 10135 89 St.
Marr said officers expressed interest in being a part of Pink Shirt Day, inspired by a student protest in Berwick, N.S., in 2007 where students showed up wearing pink shirts to school after another student was bullied for wearing one.
“Pink Shirt Day is a very powerful movement, and we as officers need to take advantage of this opportunity to take a stand against bullying,” Marr said.
While his fellow officers wanted to wear pink shirts to show their support, official uniform guidelines got in the way. Marr came up with the idea to design a pink shirt pin that officers can wear on their uniforms. Partnering with the clothing store Derks, 5,000 of the pins will be on sale for $5, with all profits promised to developing an anti-bullying program with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.
“I cannot count the number of times I have sat next to a young person who believes that the only way to escape the torment and pain of bullying is to take their own lives,” said Kelli McMillan, a psychologist who helped design the program. “I have counselled far too many parents forced to bury their children and haunted with questions they will never find answers to.”
The learning modules are designed to be delivered through Big Brothers Big Sisters with lessons on understanding bullying, having respectful relationships, improving communication and problem solving skills, regulating emotions, how to intervene and where to turn for help.
I have counselled far too many parents forced to bury their children.