Don't bully me

Bullied in school, Vernon's Samantha Sewell takes her anti-bullying message on the road these days.

Standing before a bright pink wall in the Village Green Centre, Sewell said: “Pink Shirt Day is important to me because as a kid who was bullied from elementary school to high school and is still getting bullied to this day, I want everyone to know that Pink Shirt Day is every day. It is not just one day.”

Named Miss World Wide Teen Canada last year, Sewell has come a long way from the days when she could not speak to defend herself.

This year, mall staff got involved in Sewell's effort, painting a pink wall that allows patrons to post positive messages about what they'll do to be a better person.

“We received an email from Samantha and immediately just connected that she had to bring the pink shirt promise here,” said Darren Robinson, the centre's marketing manager. “We supported it right away.”

“The messages area really about what you feel is important,” Sewell explained. “There is one up there about eating more green veggies to be honest.

“It is a promise to yourself as well as to others. The idea being you can stop bullying.”