A former Kwantlen student of mine, Sean Bindra, organized a very successful social marketing event on Anti-Bullying Day this week. It received national coverage. From the university news release:

Surrey, B.C. – Bullies didn’t stand a chance against the 640 elementary and high school students who took to the field at Princess Margaret Secondary on Anti-Bullying Day Feb. 26.

The singing and dancing students were part of the feel-good flash mob organized by Kwantlen Polytechnic University marketing student Sean Bindra, who simply wanted to do his part to secure a future free of bullies.

“Bullying is prevalent everywhere, in every aspect of our lives, and it needs to be eradicated,” says Bindra.

Bindra contacted the administration at Dr. F.D. Sinclair, Strawberry Hill and Westerman elementaries, along with nearby Princess Margaret Secondary, in January to propose the massive flash mob in support of Anti-Bullying Day.

Once Bindra had the schools’ support, he approached the internationally recognized Shiamak Dance School to choreograph the performance. Instructors from the school taught students a dance routine to a Michael Jackson song, as well as to a popular Bollywood song, and volunteers from Shiamak have been rehearsing with the students once or twice a week for the past several weeks.

Bindra then secured support and sponsorship from Surrey’s Thornley Creative to provide pink fabric for the performers’ headbands, videographer SoWedding to record the event at no cost, and Long & McQuade to donate use of a sound system.

He also received letters of support from Premier Christy Clark and Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts.

On Wednesday, Bindra saw the hard work of students pay off with the massive flash mob on the grounds at PM Secondary.

“Music and dance transcend our differences and bring us together,” says Bindra. “We are definitely stronger together than we are apart.”

Bindra says he ultimately wants to be able to send his own children to school knowing they will be accepted regardless of what they look like, who they are and what they do.

Nishan Perera, who was Bindra’s instructor in a contemporary issues and marketing course last year, said Bindra is a “passionate and proactive student who showed interest in social issues related to marketing.”

Bindra’s marketing instructor, Bob Basil, added, “This is a great initiative – full of wit and community feeling, and seriousness too.”

[Here is a video of the Pink Shirt Day event. – March 3, ’14]