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Saanich students go Gaga for Pink Shirt Day

Flash mob strikes B.C. Legislature to protest bullying of any kind
Anti-bullying Flash Mob
Reynolds students Abbie Renyard

Had Heather Benson not been recovering from surgery, she would have been dancing to Lady Gaga with 600 students on the lawn of the B.C. Legislature Tuesday morning (Feb. 28).

Instead, the Reynolds secondary school teacher and counsellor, clad in pink, sang along to the pop music from the sidelines of an anti-bullying flash mob.

Students from Cedar Hill and Arbutus middle schools, as well as Reynolds secondary school, chose dance to deliver their anti-bullying message to the province’s policy-makers.

The event came a day in advance of Pink Shirt Day, which encourages people to wear pink in protest against bullying of any kind.

“Lady Gaga is a real champion around anti-bullying,” Benson said. “She’s a proponent of accepting individual differences and (bringing) people together in the spirit of healthy relationships.”

The performance, the result of a year’s planning, was well-received and delivered the group’s message as intended, Benson added. “Bullying isn’t normal behaviour so it’s not acceptable in schools or anywhere else.”

Even Premier Christy Clark, wearing pink, took time from her schedule to make an appearance with the dancers.

nnorth@saanichnews.com