Pink Shirt Day / Anti-Bullying Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
Canadian federal and provincial government sources describe Pink Shirt Day as an anti-bullying day observed across Canada on the last Wednesday in February.
About Pink Shirt Day / Anti-Bullying Day
Pink Shirt Day is a Canadian anti-bullying observance held on the last Wednesday in February and now recognized far beyond the Nova Scotia school where the movement began.
Government of Canada and provincial sources trace the movement to 2007, when students David Shepherd and Travis Price organized classmates to wear pink in solidarity with a Grade 9 student who had been bullied for wearing a pink shirt.
Why Pink Shirt Day / Anti-Bullying Day matters
The pink shirt became a visible symbol of solidarity with people targeted by bullying and of the responsibility of bystanders to support safer, more respectful communities.
Modern observances often address bullying in schools, workplaces and online spaces, while emphasizing kindness, inclusion and practical prevention rather than treating a single day as sufficient.
History of Pink Shirt Day / Anti-Bullying Day
In 2007, Nova Scotia students David Shepherd and Travis Price organized a school protest in which students wore pink to support a younger student who had been bullied for wearing a pink shirt.
On 25 September 2007, Nova Scotia formally proclaimed a Stand Up Against Bullying Day inspired by their actions; that provincial observance used the second Thursday at the start of the school year.
The pink-shirt movement spread nationally and internationally. Canadian federal and British Columbia government materials now describe Pink Shirt Day as observed on the last Wednesday in February, with British Columbia also issuing annual proclamations for the date.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Nova Scotia school pink-shirt protest
Students David Shepherd and Travis Price organized classmates to wear pink in support of a bullied student; the action inspired the wider Pink Shirt Day movement and subsequent government recognitions.
David Shepherd and Travis Price
Canadian federal and provincial government sources identify the two Nova Scotia students as organizers of the 2007 pink-shirt protest that inspired Pink Shirt Day.
First documented observance
Government of Canada and provincial sources consistently trace Pink Shirt Day to the 2007 Nova Scotia student protest.
Formally proclaimed a provincial anti-bullying day inspired by the student pink-shirt action, using the second Thursday at the start of each school year.
Government of Nova Scotia · Stand Up Against Bullying Day proclamation
Continued formal provincial recognition of Pink Shirt Day on the modern February date.
Province of British Columbia · Annual Pink Shirt Day proclamations
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
7 fields not established in reviewed sources
Predecessor and precursor observances
Earlier or merged observances are kept separate from former names and later institutional actions.
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
Also known as
Anti-Bullying Day, Pink Shirt Day, Pink Shirt Day Canada
How to Observe Pink Shirt Day / Anti-Bullying Day
Wear pink as a visible sign of support for respectful, bullying-free schools, workplaces and communities.
Pair symbolic participation with practical action such as reviewing reporting routes, bystander strategies and anti-harassment policies.
Create age-appropriate discussions about online conduct, exclusion, discrimination and how to support someone being targeted.
Share prevention and support resources from schools, governments or established anti-bullying organizations.
Pink Shirt Day / Anti-Bullying Day Facts
Pink Shirt Day traces its origin to a 2007 student-led action in Nova Scotia.
Government sources identify David Shepherd and Travis Price as the students who organized the original pink-shirt protest.
Nova Scotia proclaimed a related Stand Up Against Bullying Day in September 2007.
Across Canada, modern Pink Shirt Day is commonly observed on the last Wednesday in February.
The current February recurrence and the original Nova Scotia school-year proclamation are distinct parts of the observance’s history.
Pink Shirt Day / Anti-Bullying Day Messages
May Pink Shirt Day turn solidarity into everyday courage to speak up when someone is being bullied or excluded.
Wishing schools and communities a meaningful Pink Shirt Day grounded in kindness, respect and practical support for others.
May wearing pink today be matched by safer choices, stronger bystander action and respect throughout the year.
On Pink Shirt Day, may every student and colleague know that dignity and belonging are worth defending.
May this day remind us that small acts of support can grow into lasting cultural change.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
British Columbia Laws — Pink Shirt Day 2026 proclamation (opens in a new tab)
Government of Canada — Pink Shirt Day 2021 (opens in a new tab)
National Government
Government of Nova Scotia — Stand Up Against Bullying Day proclaimed, 25 September 2007 (opens in a new tab)
Government of British Columbia — Pink Shirt Day 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Provincial Government
Pink Shirt Day — About (opens in a new tab)
Primary Organizer Community Campaign
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Pink Shirt Day / Anti-Bullying Day?
Last Wednesday in February The documented recurrence rule is: Last Wednesday in February.
Does Pink Shirt Day / Anti-Bullying Day fall on the same date every year?
It follows a recurring calendar rule, so the Gregorian date can change from year to year.
Is Pink Shirt Day / Anti-Bullying Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Canada / anti-bullying awareness observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes Pink Shirt Day / Anti-Bullying Day?
The documented basis is: Canadian federal and provincial government sources describe Pink Shirt Day as an anti-bullying day observed across Canada on the last Wednesday in February.. Supporting evidence includes Government of British Columbia — Pink Shirt Day 2025. The site does not infer a separate creator or founder unless reviewed evidence establishes one.
Is Pink Shirt Day / Anti-Bullying Day international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to Canada. Its fuller verified scope is: Canada / anti-bullying awareness observance.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-09.
When is Pink Shirt Day in Canada?
Canadian government sources describe it as observed on the last Wednesday in February.
Who started Pink Shirt Day?
Government sources trace it to Nova Scotia students David Shepherd and Travis Price, who organized a pink-shirt protest at their high school in 2007.
Was Pink Shirt Day created by a federal law?
No single federal founding law is established in the reviewed sources. The movement began with student action and later received government recognition and proclamations.
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