By Nancy Dolson
To The Haldimand Press
HALDIMAND—Every October, Children’s Aid Societies across Ontario raise awareness about the important role that individuals and communities play in supporting vulnerable children, youth, and families through the provincial Dress Purple Day campaign. This year, Dress Purple Day will take place on Thursday, October 27, 2022.
We all have a role to play in keeping children and youth safe and ask you to speak up for every child and youth’s right to safety and wellbeing in all areas of their lives. Not just physical safety and wellbeing – children and youth have the right to have their unique identity, which includes culture, race, sexual orientation, and gender identity, protected and supported. If you have a concern for the safety or wellbeing of a child or youth or know a family in need of support, please call Child and Family Services of Grand Erie at 1-888-753-8681. We ask that you join our campaign by:
Dressing Purple on Thursday, October 27 to show children, youth, and families that you are here to help!
Posting a picture on social media wearing purple on October 27 and using the hashtag #IDressPurpleBecause or #DressPurpleDay2022.
Creating a video explaining why you will wear purple and how you help children, youth, and families facing challenges – and share your video on social media using the hashtag #IDressPurpleBecause or #DressPurpleDay2022.
Using updated Dress Purple Classroom resources (see link below) to educate students in school and childcare about their right to safety and wellbeing as well as networks of support available to them.
Lighting up your buildings and scenic attractions in purple – just like the CN Tower, Niagara Falls, Penman’s Dam in Paris, Harmony Square in Brantford, Child and Family Services of Grand Erie office buildings, etc.
For resources and to learn more about how you can support the campaign on October 27, visit
oacas.org/publications-and-campaigns/dresspurpleday
or contact me at Nancy.Dolson@cfsge.ca for more information.
Nancy M. Dolson, B.S.L., C.I.M., is the Communications Manager for Child and Family Services of Grand Erie.
