School liaison officers with the Saanich police will have to bleach and re-bleach their white work shirts, after dying them pink to stand up against bullying.

The quintet of officers donned their new dress Wednesday (Feb. 27) as part of Pink Shirt Day in B.C.

B次元官网网址淭he school liaison section does a lot of work with anti-bullying. We do presentations, both formal and informal, on a number of topics,B次元官网网址� said Sgt. Nick Ross. B次元官网网址淲orking with the community and with the schools to really raise awareness of not just what bullying is but how to combat it and how to react in a different way so it doesnB次元官网网址檛 even happen in our community is what our section works hard to do.B次元官网网址�

Ross and his fellow school liaison officers attended assemblies and events at Saanich schools Wednesday, participating in spreading the anti-bullying message.

B次元官网网址淎 couple classes I went in to today, I heard a lot of discussion about what each person can do to avoid a situation happening. Thinking before you speak and really choosing your words and actions carefully so we prevent bullying from happening is our ultimate goal,B次元官网网址� Ross said.

Saanich firefighters on shift Wednesday also wore pink in support of Pink Shirt Day.

B次元官网网址淜ids are the ones who are most affected by it. ItB次元官网网址檚 good for those kids to look around and see theyB次元官网网址檙e not alone in their fight and see thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of people supporting them,B次元官网网址� said firefighter Jared Barker. B次元官网网址淎nd itB次元官网网址檚 about showing bullies that theyB次元官网网址檙e in the minority.B次元官网网址�

Ross says that message needs to remain in the public eye, and not solely be heard on the one day a year where pink shirts are worn to optically show support.

B次元官网网址淚 think for all schools this is an everyday education move towards a goal where any student can come to school and regardless or their differences or what they like or donB次元官网网址檛 like, theyB次元官网网址檙e not targeted,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭oday just showcases the approach that schools are taking.B次元官网网址�

Pink Shirt Day began in 2007 as a protest by two Nova Scotia high school students who saw a fellow student bullied because he wore a pink shirt to school. In response, the two students bought 50 pink T-shirts and distributed them to classmates, to symbolize a unified stand against bullying.

kslavin@saanichnews.com