Pink Shirt Day is marked on Feb. 26 in school districts across Greater Victoria as a way to draw attention to the problem of bullying.

The day originated in Canada in 2007 when two students stood up against the homophobic harassment of a classmate by calling on their peers to wear pink in solidarity with the victimized student. The initiative garnered national attention and has steadily grown.

But, while the sentiment behind the day B次元官网网址� raising awareness and promoting kindness and inclusivity B次元官网网址� is arguably a good thing, experts in the field have questioned the effectiveness of the strategy and called for a shift in approach.

That shift, they say, is needed more than ever given the changing face of bullying.

B次元官网网址淥n Pink Shirt Day, school and public events will aim to educate young people on the impact of bullying, but these events donB次元官网网址檛 do much to address the actual behaviours,B次元官网网址� said Darren Laur, chief training officer for The White Hatters, a digital literacy education specialty company that has worked to help schools and others deal with cyberbullying.

B次元官网网址淭he events do very little to address the actual bullying behaviours or assist the victims of bullying.B次元官网网址�

Laur even cites examples of bullies wearing pink shirts on the day to blend in, while still engaging in bullying behaviour.

In fact, Laur doesnB次元官网网址檛 like the term B次元官网网址渂ullyingB次元官网网址� at all. B次元官网网址淚 think it trivializes and confuses the issue,B次元官网网址� he said.

The legal definition of bullying is: Behaviour that is intended to cause fear, intimidation, humiliation, distress or other forms of harm to another personB次元官网网址檚 body, feelings, self-esteem, reputation or property. Bullying can be direct or indirect, and can take place by written, verbal, physical or electronic means, or any other form of expression.

The important thing missing from that definition, said Laur, is the aspect that most defines bullying B次元官网网址� a power imbalance.

B次元官网网址淏y focusing on that power imbalance, we can distinguish between bullying and what is really just rude, mean, or disturbing behaviour,B次元官网网址� said Laur. B次元官网网址淭hose rude and mean behaviours are a part of growing up and learning interpersonal skills. You shouldnB次元官网网址檛 call any behaviour that you donB次元官网网址檛 like bullying. It diminishes the harm that real bullying can cause.B次元官网网址�

Those harms can, and have, gone so far as to be linked to the suicide of bullying victims.

Dave Eberwein, School District 63 superintendent, said that his district is very cognizant of the issues surrounding bullying and has worked to develop a strong culture of support in which students feel safe in reporting bullying behaviours.

B次元官网网址淥f course, there is a wide spectrum of behaviours that we see reported. It can happen directly, online and weB次元官网网址檝e had situations where abusive behaviour in the home is reported to the school. And while we have to be cautious that we donB次元官网网址檛 label everything as bullying, our staff are very adept at resolving issues.B次元官网网址�

School District 62 has adopted a similar philosophy.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e instituted a cellphone ban during school hours, for example, and weB次元官网网址檝e established codes of conduct for elementary, middle and secondary students,B次元官网网址� said Kristen McGillivray, manager of strategic communications.

Violations of those codes of conduct can, and have, resulted in a variety of actions, up to and including school suspensions and referrals to law enforcement.

B次元官网网址淭he real problem we have with cyberbullying is that we arenB次元官网网址檛 able to detect the bullying unless the digital activity is monitored by parents. We are not allowed to look into a student's personal phone,B次元官网网址� said McGillivary.

B次元官网网址淐yberbullying is also most often anonymous and finding out who is doing it can be very hard. WeB次元官网网址檝e had situations where what we think are students even bullying teachers by posting photos and comments but thereB次元官网网址檚 little we can do about it.B次元官网网址�

So what can be done beyond showing solidarity on Pink Shirt Day?

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really important for young people to report bullying when it happens. They should talk to a trusted school staff member or adult, or they can use the B次元官网网址淩eport It/Erase ItB次元官网网址� tool to anonymously report a problemB次元官网网址� said Laur.

The B.C. government reporting line can be found at erasereportit.gov.bc.ca/.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 also possible, in some cases, to report the problem to law enforcement,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭here are at least 14 different offences that can be used to deal with digital peer aggression, including offences like counselling suicide, impersonation, harassment, and hate crimes.B次元官网网址�

As might be expected, all of this just scratches the surface of the issues surrounding bullying.

For example, questions of what to do if you find that your child is the bully can be daunting and sometimes mental health issues may be at the root of bullying behaviours.

B次元官网网址淲e know that Pink Shirt Day, by itself, isnB次元官网网址檛 something that will end bullying,B次元官网网址� said Everwein. B次元官网网址淏ut itB次元官网网址檚 important that we keep the issue in the forefront. We all want to become better people, after all.B次元官网网址�