Pink Shirt Day 2024
On Feb. 28, join us for Pink Shirt Day—when UVic students, staff and faculty wear pink to stand against bullying and harassment.
Bullying is a pervasive problem in Canada and our campus is no exception. As a community, we can lift each other up by wearing pink on Feb. 28. It’s a small but meaningful gesture that shows everyone at UVic that we stand for kindness.
If you are affected by bullying, discrimination or harassment at UVic, please reach out to the Equity & Human Rights office for advice and support.
Here at UVic, there are resources, training programs, and community-building funds dedicated to building a more welcoming and inclusive university.
Education & workshops
Step In, Speak Up
Intended for new-to-UVic students, Step In, Speak Up is an online training program that will introduce participants to the concepts of pro-social bystander intervention and community expectations.
Tools for Change
Tools for Change provides useful information and practical skills for preventing and responding to sexualized violence. The next session will be held on March 26.
Starting the Conversation
Starting the Conversation teaches university faculty and staff how to identify sexualized violence, how to respond to a disclosure of sexualized violence, where to get support, and how to prevent sexualized violence. The next session will be held on March 21.
Anti-oppression education
UVic’s anti-oppression education program is open to everyone, including staff, faculty, students and community members. It is a five part series that covers topics such as rematriation, anti-oppression, deconstructing colonial powers, Indigenous power structures, and centring 2SLGBTQIA+ knowledges. It is offered on a regular basis through Learning Central.
Workplace bullying and harassment prevention
There is mandatory workplace bullying and harassment prevention training for all UVic employees. If you’re looking for a refresher, there are quick guides available for staff and faculty and for supervisors.
Learning resources
For more learning resources, you can also review UVic Libraries' guide on Anti-racism and Anti-oppression.
Funding
Student Life Grants
Students can apply for a Student Life Grant (SLG) to fund initiatives that engage and positively impact the UVic community. The SLG Anti-Racism Supplement supports initiatives that address racism and engage anti-racism strategies on campus.
Faculty and Staff Anti-Racism Initiative (ARI) Grants
Anti-Racism Initiative Grants enable faculty and staff to propose ways to better embed anti-racist practices in teaching and learning to support the student experience at UVic. Applications are open annually.
Equity Action Plan
UVic’s Equity Action Plan includes key actions that UVic has committed to take to advance equity, diversity, inclusion, and to create conditions where everyone feels like they belong. There are also reflection and action guides for campus members to use to join in the work. For employees, there is a new Implementation Framework that includes the principles and phases needed to meet your area’s equity action goals.
Mental Health
Student Wellness Centre
Students can meet with a counsellor, doctor, nurse or spiritual care provider through the Student Wellness Centre.
SupportConnect
SupportConnect is a free, confidential mental health support for UVic students that is available 24/7.
Employee Family Assistance Program
UVic staff, faculty and dependents can find support through our employee and family assistance program (EFAP). EFAP is a confidential program that includes professional counselling, information and referral services.
About Pink Shirt Day
Pink Shirt Day started in 2007 when a group of high school students in Nova Scotia wore pink in response to homophobic bullying at their school. Since then, the initiative has taken off, raising more than $2,686,000 to support youth anti-bullying programs in Western Canada and showing people across the country that bullying is not okay. This year groups in more than 110 countries will participate in Pink Shirt Day.
