Celebrating Pink Shirt Day: Together we can make a difference!

Close to 200 VGH staff and physicians joined together on Pink Shirt Day, February 25, to celebrate how far we’ve come in the last year in taking a stand against bullying in the workplace.

The atrium at VGH was filled with staff wearing their pink OR hats and shirts, creating an atmosphere of solidarity and respect. Thanks to everyone who joined the celebration to show their commitment towards creating a respectful workplace. 

Anne Harvey, VP of Employee Engagement, kicked off the celebration by reminding us of why Pink Shirt Day was so special. February 25, 2015 marked the one-year anniversary of launching our no-bully line, the first employer-sponsored 1-800 line to report bullying in Canada, as acknowledged by our Health Minister Terry Lake on Twitter this past week.

Anne thanked staff for their courage in coming forward to report disrespectful behaviour by saying,”In our first year, we have had 600 requests for help across VCH, including 189 in Vancouver, from employees who want to have a better workplace climate – and together we are making this happen.”

Hannah Brine, a Grade four student from Herbert Spencer Elementary School in New Westminster, was then invited to share her poem on anti-bullying. The room was silent as she read her empowering poem about taking a stand against bullying by saying, “We can face it hand in hand, together we can take a stand, to show what’s right and what is wrong, together we can be so strong.”

Dr. Bas Masri, Professor and Head of Orthopaedics, then spoke, highlighting the value of our differences in providing the best care. He added, “We all work differently and can all learn from one another. It’s the differences that allow us to grow and change. Everyone that comes to work needs to feel respected and valued regardless of the differences that separate us.”

In sharing her personal story about being bullied at VCH and breaking the silence by asking a close colleague for help, Vivian Eliopoulos, COO of Vancouver Acute, asked each of us to make a personal commitment to a colleague or best friend at work. “If you see a situation where someone is being treated disrespectfully, have the courage to lean in and support that individual in finding their own courage to make the behaviour stop.”

Together, we are breaking the silence. Please continue to report bullying when you see it by calling 1-844-NO BULLY (662-8559).

If you’d like more information on workplace bullying and what you can do about it, please visit the Employee Relations section of VCH Connect.

Hannah Brine, Grade four student from New Westminster, with Anne Harvey, VP of Employee Engagement

VCH Clinical Education Team