Prince George, B.C. – Big Brothers Big Sisters Prince George is urging people to wear pink today to help raise awareness around the negative effects of bullying.

It’s the fourth consecutive year the local non-profit has marked Pink Shirt Day and one of the organizers thinks it’s made a difference.

“We’ve only been doing it for four years here but I think that it’s really starting to gain exposure,” says communications and events coordinator Sydney Sankey.

“Because sometimes I think before people may have been a little too focused on attacking the bully where now, through Pink Shirt Day, we’re telling people if you’ve been bullied and you’ve felt bullied that there are people here that you can talk to and places that you can reach out to for help.”

She says there’s a variety of ways to seek help – be it by consulting an adult, a parent, a teacher or a counsellor at school – though one method typically works best.

“Most importantly we really urge that if you feel confident and you’re comfortable, you need to stand up for yourself and really let people know that the way they’re treating you, or somebody else, isn’t acceptable.”

Sankey says pink shirts can be purchased at all Prince George Save-On-Foods locations today (while supplies last) for $10 or at their office at 777 Kinsmen Place. She says they are hoping to raise $12,000 and notes all proceeds will stay local and help fund the agency’s mentoring program.

“Through our mentoring program, we really work towards increasing a child’s confidence and their self-esteem because if they feel confident in themselves, they won’t feel the need to bully others.”