Who is behind Pink Shirt Day?

Pink Shirt Day is a global initiative that was started by two high school students, David Shepherd and Travis Price, from Berwick, Nova Scotia, Canada. The story behind the inception of Pink Shirt Day is both inspiring and heartwarming.

In 2007, a ninth-grade student named Chuck McNeill was bullied for wearing a pink polo shirt to school. When David Shepherd and Travis Price heard about this incident, they decided to take a stand against bullying. They bought 50 pink shirts and distributed them among their schoolmates, encouraging everyone to wear pink the next day. The idea was simple yet powerful – if everyone wore pink, the bullies couldn’t target all of them.

The initiative was a huge success, with about 850 out of 1,000 students at their school wearing some form of pink. The movement quickly spread beyond their school, with schools throughout Nova Scotia, and then Canada, and eventually all over the world, participating in what came to be known as Pink Shirt Day.

In New Zealand, Pink Shirt Day is led by the Mental Health Foundation, with support from various organizations including InsideOUT, the Peace Foundation, New Zealand Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA), Te Kaha O Te Rangatahi Indigenous Youth Hub, the Human Rights Commission, Bullying-Free NZ Week, and Cook Islands Development Agency.

Today, Pink Shirt Day is observed annually in many countries, including Canada and New Zealand, with participants wearing pink shirts and attending or hosting informative events to raise awareness about bullying, particularly in schools. The movement has grown organically over the years, but the message has always remained the same – stand up against bullying, promote kindness, and foster inclusivity. It’s a testament to the power of collective action and the impact that even small acts of kindness can have in creating a safer, more respectful world.