Heather Latter
The local branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association, in conjunction with the local Celebrating Diversity committee, is urging the community to show support by participating in this year’s “International Day of Pink” next Wednesday (April 13).
“The ‘Day of Pink’ promotes inclusion and promotes the celebration of diversity and anti-bullying,” said Nancy Daley-Fulton of the local CMHA, who also is a member of the Celebrating Diversity committee.
“What it’s saying is we want to support people who are different and that’s really important,” she stressed.
“It is a day where communities across the country, and across the world, can unite in celebrating diversity and raising awareness to stop homophobia, transphobia, transmisogyny, and all forms of bullying,” the website notes.
Daley-Fulton admitted the CMHA won’t be quite as visible in the community this year, but it still will be putting up banners, decorating the yard, and wearing pink.
“We’re really focusing more on Mental Health Week this year, which is the first week of May,” she explained, adding she also has to travel for training in Winnipeg next Wednesday so things won’t be quite the same.
In past years, Daley-Fulton had dressed completely in pink—even colouring her hair pink—and handed out pink carnations to community members and residents at Rainycrest.
“It’s sad we won’t be doing that this year,” she remarked. “However, we do definitely support diversity and inclusion.
“And I think it’s a message we have to keep promoting.”
Daley-Fulton said she hopes members of the community join in supporting the “Day of Pink.”
“We definitely encourage the community, the schools, the other agencies, and businesses to not ever lose sight of the fact that we are an extremely diverse community, and becoming more so all the time, and we need to celebrate the differences,” she explained.
“We need to include everybody.
“We all bring a richness that our community has within,” she added. “So I really think that everybody needs to continue to celebrate this day.”
Daley-Fulton also said the community should keep the message going all year round.
“It needs to become a part of our regular behaviour and lifestyle,” she suggested.
There are two different “pink days” that take place each year—“Pink Shirt Day,” which falls in February, and “Day of Pink” in April.
Both originated in 2007 from the same incident where two high school students in Nova Scotia witnessed a Grade 9 student being bullied for wearing a pink polo shirt and subsequently convinced classmates to wear pink to support him.
But the two “pink days” each have a different focus.
“‘Pink Shirt Day’ focuses more on anti-bullying while ‘Day of Pink’ is more about inclusion for all,” explained Daley-Fulton, noting the local Celebrating Diversity committee chooses to support the latter because it better aligns with its mission of inclusivity.
She noted “Pink Shirt Day” has incorporated the message of kindness and pay-it-forward. And while “Day of Pink” also spreads those messages, it works to prevent homophobic and transphobic bullying.
“When I look at it as an individual, not as a spokesperson for CMHA or anything else, I look at it in terms of everybody matters and we need to include everybody,” Daley-Fulton said.
“It’s inclusion, diversity, it doesn’t matter where you come from, what your background is, or what your sexual orientation is,” she stressed.
“And we know that, especially among youth, confusion of sexual orientation is a risk factor when it comes to suicide ideation and action,” she warned.
“So inclusion, acceptance, being kind, non-judgemental, those are important.”
Several businesses and organizations already are planning to support “Day of Pink” in different ways, with Daley-Fulton saying it’s not too late to get involved.
“There are lots of things people can do to show their support,” she remarked.
“It doesn’t take a whole lot of work and it doesn’t take a whole lot of money.”
She suggested people can wear a pink arm band or a bracelet, decorate office/store windows, have an internal competition (i.e., decorating doors), decorate vehicles, hand out ribbons, make cookies/cupcakes with pink icing, or put pink on a website or social media page.
The Northwest Community Legal Clinic, for instance, had a contest amongst its staff to come up with their own design for T-shirts celebrating the “Day of Pink” this year.
The winning design was created by Yvonne Treffers, a community legal worker from the NCLC’s Atikokan office.
Staff will be wearing the shirts next Wednesday, and have purchased a number of extra ones to give away to people to wear on the “Day of Pink” to spread the message throughout the community.
The local United Native Friendship Centre, meanwhile, is having an open house at its Circle of Life Centre on Mowat Avenue from noon-2 p.m., where bannock and chili will be served at no cost.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
And the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre is encouraging all staff, library patrons, and program attendees to wear pink next Wednesday.
They also are encouraging members of the Fireside Yarn Club to work on “pink” projects.
New Gold, which is committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination, bullying and harassment, and violence, will be speaking about the “Day of Pink” at its regular team member communications.
As well, Rainy River District School Board schools will be participating in “Day of Pink” by wearing pink and by participating in various activities.
The Education Centre (board office) also will be celebrating the day and showing support by “Pinking-It-Up” both indoors and outside the building.
Local Catholic schools have a number anti-bullying programs that are ongoing within the classroom, school yard, and school community.
Finally, NCDS will be celebrating “Day of Pink” by streaming anti-bullying and diversity films in its Resource Centre and distributing various resources, including information on workplace harassment and discrimination.
Staff also will be wearing pink and giving away free cookies and pink popcorn.
“NCDS is enthusiastic about the ‘Day of Pink’ because everyone deserves to work in an environment free of harassment and discrimination,” noted marketing co-ordinator Sarah Marusyk.
“We are committed to being open-minded and respectful of our clients and co-workers, and to inspire our community to celebrate—not criticize—our differences,” she stressed.
