COLD LAKE - The Cold Lake and District FCSS Bully Free Committee is gearing up for one of its most beloved annual initiatives, the Pink in the Rink campaign, running from Jan. 13 to 31.
The event, now in its eighth year, continues to bring the community together to take a stand against bullying, while celebrating unity through hockey and creativity.
“Pink in the Rink has been an initiative of the Cold Lake Bully Free Committee since 2017 to commemorate National Pink Shirt Day. National Pink Shirt Day began in 2007 when students at a high school in Nova Scotia took a stand after witnessing a fellow student being bullied for wearing a pink shirt,” explained Brittany Yuzicapi-Langer, Community Partnerships Facilitator with Cold Lake and District FCSS.
Yuzicapi-Langer highlighted this act of kindness as the inspiration behind the Cold Lake campaign. Pink Shirt Day will be acknowledged across the country on Feb. 26.
“Those students bought 50 pink shirts and encouraged students to wear them. The next day they found that the majority of students arrived wearing pink,” stated Yuzicapi-Langer.
This year’s event will feature a colouring contest for children across local schools, daycares, and the community. Submissions can be dropped off at Cold Lake and District FCSS or emailed to [email protected].
The winner will receive the opportunity to attend a special home game with the Cold Lake Ice of the North Eastern Alberta Jr. B Hockey League for free and take part in other exciting opportunities.
"The winner of the contest gets to do the puck drop at the game, as well as meet the [Cold Lake Ice]. The community is encouraged to wear pink at the game, and the team will be sporting pink during their warmup,” Yuzicapi-Langer explained.
The special game will take place on Feb. 7, where fans of all ages are encouraged to come dressed in pink to show their support of the anti-bullying message.
“Unity can take on many forms, but when community comes together to address an issue that affects us all, it brings us together. We focus on the issue, our shared humanity, rather than our differences,” Yuzicapi-Langer emphasized.
Last year’s colouring contest drew almost 300 submissions, and organizers hope to surpass that number this year. The event has consistently seen strong support from the community and the Cold Lake Ice.
“Our hockey team is a huge supporter of the campaign, and our community loves hockey. It is definitely a winning combination,” Yuzicapi-Langer shared.
Beyond the rink, there are other ways to support the anti-bullying movement. Yuzicapi-Langer encouraged residents to wear pink on National Pink Shirt Day and to consider volunteering with the Cold Lake Bully Free Committee.
“We are a diverse and young community. Our youth are the leaders of the future, and by involving our youth, we have a better opportunity to make our community safe and inclusive for all,” Yuzicapi-Langer said.
