Kids would normally get in trouble for painting an RCMP vehicle but not this week. On Wednesday, Feb. 26, a team of police officers encouraged some preschoolers to do just that, all in support of Pink Shirt Day.
Members of the Ladysmith RCMP detachment, Indigenous Policing Section and Ladysmith Victim Services attended local school events for Pink Shirt Day, an annual event aimed at uniting Canadians to stand against bullying, particularly in schools.
Officers attended Ladysmith Secondary School’s Pink Shirt Day event and participated in an online assembly with all classes conducted via Zoom. This was followed by a visit with Grade 4 students. Officers talked to the students about how to speak up if they are bullied as well as the importance of treating others with kindness.
The team then headed to École North Oyster Elementary for an assembly and took part in group art projects with the students.
In Stz'uminus, Constable Glen Martin and victim services workers gave presentations to several classes from Stz'uminus Elementary School and Stzùminus Community School, involving students from kindergarten to Grade 12.
Preschool students and their tiny hands were enlisted to help decorate the RCMP pickup truck with pink handprints for Pink Shirt Day. The kids took this project on with glee.
"Our main goal was to spread the message of kindness and encourage students to speak up if they are being bullied," said Const. Glen Martin. “The kids look forward all year to putting handprints on the police truck and they had a great time."
These community engagement events were a big hit, with students and officers alike reinforcing the importance of kindness and standing up against bullying.
