Pink Shirt Day Breakfast in Kelowna raises money for youth programs

Students, community leaders and organizations gathered at the annual Pink Shirt Day Breakfast in Kelowna to mark the anti-bullying campaign and to raise funds. The event aimed to raise $35,000 to support safe club spaces and youth programs.

Students, community leaders and local organizations wore pink across Kelowna on Wednesday at the annual Pink Shirt Day Breakfast to mark the anti-bullying campaign. The event took place at the Laurel Packinghouse and aimed to raise $35,000 for safe club spaces and youth programs. Pink Shirt Day began in 2007 when two high school students in Nova Scotia encouraged classmates to wear pink in support of a boy who had been teased. The Kelowna Youth Safety Committee has been working with first responders and community groups while students lead projects on anti-bullying, vaping prevention, mental health resources and youth-led safe spaces. What happened: - The annual Pink Shirt Day Breakfast was held at the Laurel Packinghouse in Kelowna on Wednesday. - Students, community leaders and organizations participated and wore pink to mark Pink Shirt Day. - Organizers aimed to raise $35,000 to support safe club spaces and programs that teach empathy, belonging and respect. - Pink Shirt Day began in 2007 in Nova Scotia as a stand against bullying. - The Kelowna Youth Safety Committee and local partners have been involved in youth-focused projects including anti-bullying and mental health efforts. Summary: Organizers used the breakfast to highlight local youth-led work on bullying prevention and mental health. The event aimed to raise $35,000 to support safe club spaces and programs that teach empathy, belonging and respect. Whether the fundraising target was met has not been reported and future actions are undetermined at this time.