Montreal’s F.A.C.E elementary celebrates Pink Shirt Day

The English Montreal School Board (EMSB) hosted community poet Samara O’Gorman to speak to F.A.C.E elementary students for Pink Shirt Day on Wednesday.

Pink Shirt Day reinforces the message of taking a stand against bullying while advocating for kindness and inclusivity.

O’Gorman is an Inspirations ambassador for mental health, who shared her message of kindness and leadership.

“Bullying still exists and it’s still happening,” said O’Gorman. “I think it might be a constant thing but how we tackle it and how kids become aware of it will become a more mainstream thing.”

O’Gorman adds that she herself was bullied in high school – for the way that she dressed.

“I really valued kind of vintage dresses with colourful patterns and colourful colours. And every day I would show up to school and kids were mean to me because the ways I chose to express myself. It didn’t make much sense to me because I feel like how we choose to express ourselves, it should be celebrated. Not bullied.”

Hazel, a 10-year-old student at F.A.C.E. said that she would help any student she saw getting bullied.

“I would pull them aside and tell them, like are you okay? And I’d go and tell the teachers.”

“It’s important to stand against bullying – and I don’t think it’s fair that some kids get bullied,” added Janelle, a student at F.A.C.E.

O’Gorman will be speaking at EMSB elementary schools throughout the rest of the academic year and will offer poetry workshops as well.

The mental health ambassador said that the best tip to spotting bullying is by simply listening.

“I think listening is one of the most powerful tools when it comes to bullying. So just being aware and kind of having your eagle eyes open at all times.”

“I wanted to be treated the same way that they want to be treated. That I could be listened to and they could be listened to by other people,” said Jeramy, a student at F.A.C.E.