February 29 is Pink Shirt Day, and people from around the world are encouraged to wear something pink to symbolize we as a society will not tolerate bullying, anywhere. Metropolis at Metrotown, BC’s largest shopping centre, is loud and proud of their latest initiative in the lead up to Pink Shirt Day with an anti-bullying t-shirt design contest, designed to help stop bullying.

Up until February 15, British Columbian’s are invited to express their creativity through an online t-shirt design contest. Metropolis at Metrotown is a popular natural gathering place for youth in Metro Vancouver and the winning design will need to connect to those youth.

“We want to be part of the anti-bullying solution by promoting anti-bullying awareness and empowering youth to stand up for themselves and each other,” said PR Manager, Artie Chumpol. “We think this design contest is a great way to engage the entire community on an issue we all face at some time or another.”

The t-shirt design must reflect a message of anti-bullying. Designs can be “shared” on Facebook, using the Metropolis at Metrotown t-shirt design application.  The winning design will be determined by which virtual t-shirt receives the most online votes. The winner of the contest will not only win a $500 gift card to Metropolis at Metrotown, but the winning t-shirt will be produced and sold from February 17-29, 2012, just in time for Pink Shirt Day. Proceeds from the sale of the t-shirts will be donated to Kids Help Phone.

“Kids Help Phone’s professional counsellors assist kids more than 4,300 times a week either through phone or web consultation,” says Lauren Davies from Kids Help Phone. “We’re thrilled to have the support of Metropolis at Metrotown and we want everyone to go online and express their creativity by designing an anti-bullying t-shirt. It will make a difference in the lives of many kids, possibly even someone you know.”