Love was louder than bullying last week at Maidstone schools.
Pink Shirt Day was held Friday. The shirts were ordered weeks ago and arrived a few days before the big day. Throughout the community parents and siblings sported the shirts as the schools were filled with the hue.
People who wouldn't usually wear the colour proudly donned the bright pink t-shirts with the "End Bullying" message.
"Kids don't have respect for themselves so they bully others to feel good about themselves," said Katelynn Robb one of the members of the Grade 12 Leadership Class, the group who organized the event.
Grade 4-6 students from Ratushniak Elementary School and Grade 7-12 students from Maidstone High School were joined by family members and members of the community in the high school gym. Beth Nerbas introduced the event and keynote speaker Brian Trainor.
Trainor is a retired Saskatoon City Police sergeant who has found his passion in bullying education. Trainor began by penning an anti-bullying comic book that was distributed to Grade 5 students around the province. It opened the door to the speaking circuit.
Trainor explained bullying in several forms and the effects of bullying using slides, statistics, definitions and personal stories. The stories included those about his children and their friends and about attending 132 suicides in his 27 years on the force.
He talked about cyber-bullying and encouraged the young people to be careful about their online images.
Trainor also talked about the hurt and loneliness caused by cruel words.
"If you hear the term 'that's so gay' stand up to it," he said.
The highlight of the assembly was a multi-media presentation created by members of the leadership class. It used music, video clips from movies and promotional campaigns and clips of students from the Maidstone schools talking about friendship and bullying. It was powerful and personal for many members of the audience.
After the presentation all of the students and staff from both schools gathered for a group picture in pink. Students smiled up at the camera chanting "love is louder" over and over again.
"I think it opens everyone's eyes," said Katelyn, smiling as she took down some of the decorations from the wall.
"It was great to see a K-12 approach on a project led by the students, we need to do more of it," said high school principal Brennan Becotte.
"We are stronger together than we are apart," added Shawn Larson, principal of Ratushniak Elementary School.
It is strength that builds community and in Maidstone the pink heart of the community beats through the education system.
