Schoolchildren across the country were clad in pink Wednesday as part of an international effort to stop bullying.

The event, dubbed "Day of Pink," began three years ago in Cambridge, N.S., when a Grade 9 boy was bullied for wearing a pink shirt to school. Two of his schoolmates bought pink shirts to wear in solidarity with the bullied student, and an international phenomenon was born.

In Toronto, thousands of students wore pink shirts to school and took part in activities designed to raise awareness about all forms of bullying.

Malvern Collegiate student Amy Leung said she has been the victim of bullying since she came out many years ago.

"Cyber-bullying is a big thing, because it's so easy and the comments are instant," Leung told CTV Toronto. "So I just try to ignore it."

English teacher Marlene Bourdon-King said school staff can play a role in detecting when a student is being bullied.

"They tell us a great deal in their writing," Bourdon-King said. "I'm awed all the time about what a student will actually reveal to their English teachers in their writing."

In British Columbia, students across the province wore pink to school thanks to the organizational efforts of the Boys and Girls Club.

Club representative Carolyn Tuckwell said bullying is not exclusive to school-aged children.

"Bullying comes kind of naturally to us, unfortunately," Tuckwell said. "So many of the stories we're hearing are from people struggling with coworkers or friends, anyone, so it's relevant to every age group."

This year, the Club sold more than 30,000 shirts to raise funds for its youth programs, which include anti-bullying initiatives.

Festivities in Vancouver were to wrap up around 4 p.m. local time with a concert at the Fraserview Boys and Girls Club.

In Regina, pink-clad students at Miller Comprehensive High School organized a Sea of Pink dance for the lunch hour.

With reports from CTV Toronto and CTV British Columbia