COLD LAKE – Residents of Cold Lake took a bold stand against bullying with the annual Bully Free Pink Walk, a community-wide event that saw students, law enforcement, and residents marching through the streets in a show of solidarity.
Organized by the Cold Lake and District FCSS Bully Free committee, the Oct. 4 event marked the beginning of Bullying Awareness Month.
Participants from the French immersion Assumption Junior High School and members of the Cold Lake RCMP joined forces with the public to raise awareness about bullying, creating a powerful visual statement as they walked from the FCSS building through downtown Cold Lake, spreading their message of support and unity.
“The Pink Walk is an annual occurrence, so we do encourage just the general public to attend, but we do have a focus on the schools, the neighbouring schools, to also attend,” said Clarissa Favel, Community Partnerships Facilitator at Cold Lake and District FCSS and chair of the Cold Lake Bully Free Committee,
The event, marked by a sea of participants wearing pink, sent a strong message about the importance of community support and action against bullying. “It is a nice way to come together as a community and it's a visual aspect . . . We can see everybody joining in solidarity,” Favel said.
This annual walk is one of several anti-bullying initiatives spearheaded by the Cold Lake Bully Free Committee.
The Cold Lake Bully Free Committee is entirely volunteer run, with members from various agencies and the public. They meet a few times a year to plan anti-bullying initiatives.
Among their ongoing efforts are events like the "Pink in the Rink," a partnership with the Cold Lake Jr. B Ice, and a button colouring contest.
As part of Bullying Awareness Month, an event is planned for Oct. 29 at Cold Lake FCSS, featuring a facilitator specializing in workplace harassment and bullying. This full-day training will include an additional hour-long session open to the public, allowing anyone to benefit from the training.
As Cold Lake rallies behind this cause, the Pink Walk served as a reminder that no one has to face bullying alone.
Favel emphasized the need for support to be tailored to individual circumstances, noting that resources may differ based on the age and situation of the person being bullied. For younger individuals, options like the Kids Helpline or school counselors can be helpful.
For anyone passionate about fighting bullying, the Cold Lake Bully Free Committee welcomes new members.
“We are accepting members so anybody can join if they have a passion for bringing awareness of bullying,” Favel says, adding, “They can contact the Cold Lake and District FCSS and they can attend our meetings and we can go from there.”
