Every year students across the District participate in Pink Shirt Day activities. The day began more than a decade ago as an awareness campaign about homophobic bullying. This year’s Pink Shirt Day theme is Lift Each Other Up – something that has perhaps become even more important as the pandemic has gone on.
In their letter to families, Board Chair Jen Mezei and Superintendent Gina Niccoli-Moen shared that many schools also use the opportunity as a chance to focus on activities that celebrate kindness, as well as a reminder to students to be proud of who they are and encourage others to do the same.
Learning first-hand about cultures and expressions of who you are benefits us all. The connections between us are beautifully captured by local Indigenous artist Gord Dick from the Tsleil-Waututh and Lil’wat Nations who designed the District’s official pink shirt this year. The symbol of the wolf represents how we are all standing together as one heart and the eagle brings healing and guidance from the ancestors.”
Read the full letter here.
There are many initiatives and activities throughout the year that explore kindness and respect for others.
Scroll down to learn more.
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Celebrating Diversity
Students Celebrate World Kindness Day – November 2021
Bhangra for Kindness – Burnaby Beacon, November 2021
We’ve Got Pride – June 2021
Virtual Event Supports LGBTQ+ Community – May 2021
Two More Burnaby Elementary Schools Get Rainbow Crosswalks – Burnaby Now, May 2021
Burnaby School Board Votes to Fly Pride Flag at Headquarters – Burnaby Now, May 2021
Pink Shirt Day in Burnaby Schools – February 2021
Burnaby Students and Seniors Team Up for Pink Shirt Day Message – Burnaby Now, February 2021
Burnaby School District One High School Away From a Rainbow Flush – Burnaby Now, October 2020
Annual breakfast for Burnaby LGBTQ students goes virtual – Burnaby Now, May 2020
Supporting LGBTQ+ Community: Annual Event Reimagined – May 2020
Burnaby School District Installs First Elementary School Rainbow Walkway – Burnaby Now, May 2020
Pink Shirt Day in Burnaby Schools & in the Community – February 2020
Diversity Dance – February 2020
University Highlands to Get Burnaby’s First Elementary School Rainbow Crosswalk – Burnaby Now, September 2019
$350K SOGI Funding Announcement Made in Burnaby – Burnaby Now, September 2019
Behind the Scenes at the Vancouver Pride Parade – Georgia Straight, August 2019
Class Act: Burnaby Schools Get Two More Rainbow Crosswalk (and More News) – Burnaby Now, April 2019
Beyond the Pink: Celebrating Diversity and Kindness in Burnaby Schools – February 2019
Pink Shirt Day Targets Cyber Bullying: Burnaby Schools Flash Mob at Lougheed Town Centre – Global News, February 2019
Gary Wong: Pink Shirt Day—What Kids in Pink and a Rainbow Can Show Adult Politicians – The Georgia Straight, February 2019
Burnaby School District Dance for LGBTQ Youth and Allies Now Open to New West Students – Burnaby Now, February 2019
The Best Burnaby Letter to the Editor of 2018 was Written by a Teenager – Burnaby Now, December 2018
Seaforth Elementary’s Kindness Patrol on World Kindness Day – CTV News, November 2018
Burnaby School Joins Youth Patrol Spreading Random Acts of Kindness – Burnaby Now, November 2018
Rainbow Crosswalk to Greet Returning Burnaby Students – Burnaby Now, August 2018
Posted February 2022