McWane Canada believes in the power of kindness and empathy. Vice President Rick Benoit feels strongly that our team members have the ability to make a positive impact every day by supporting one another and creating an environment where everyone feels safe and respected. This year, McWane Canada embraced Pink Shirt Week and proudly took a stand against bullying.
All team members received a pink T-shirt highlighting this commitment with additional T-shirts available for employees’ family members. A social media contest, group photos, posters and other materials promoted awareness of this anti-bullying campaign and provided an opportunity to stand united for this worthwhile cause.
Celebrated the last Wednesday of February every year, Pink Shirt Day was initially inspired by an act of kindness in small-town Nova Scotia involving a group of teenage friends who organized a high-school protest to wear pink in sympathy with a boy who was being bullied. After this initial act of kindness in 2007, CKNW was inspired to help other youth affected by bullying, with many staff members wearing pink shirts and collecting funds to support Boys and Girls Clubs. Since then, the idea has grown each year, with worldwide support and participation. Since 2008, net proceeds of over $3 million have been distributed to support youth anti-bullying programs in British Columbia and throughout Western Canada.
“This week, we stood together – collectively more than 500 team members across Canada Pipe, Clow Canada and Bibby-Ste-Croix – to say no to bullying and yes to kindness, inclusion and empathy,” said Benoit. “It was an incredible experience, and a proud moment to be a part of something that underscores the values at the heart of who we are.”