Sarah Crookall
Staff Reporter
On Oct. 27, residents across Madawaska Valley and Renfrew County wore many shades of purple to support the annual Dress Purple Day.
Among the participating schools, students at St. Andrew’s Catholic School in Killaloe showed off their purple masks, shirts, leggings, and shoes.
Dress Purple Day aims to raise support for vulnerable children, youth, and families. The campaign has a 30-year history across Children’s Aid Societies in Ontario.
Currently led by the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS), the day also aims to remind youth and children that safety includes emotional, spiritual, and cultural safety.
“It’s critical to understand that those rights extend beyond physical bodies,” reads an OACAS report.
Formerly known as Child Abuse Prevention Month, OACAS adds that the previous name brought unwarranted over-surveillance of family and abuse reports—especially among visible minority groups.
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