Four-year-old Ellie smiles as she tests out Medicine Hat manufacturer Blue Imp's new Be Kind bench.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
kking@medicinehatnews.com
Medicine Hat manufacturer Blue Imp is donating 20 of its new Be Kind benches to local elementary schools ahead of Pink Shirt Day (or Anti-Bullying Day) which takes place Feb. 22.
Specially designed to promote anti-bullying, the Be Kind bench is a blue and pink power-coated steel bench designed for indoor use. The bench features the message ‘Be Kind’ on its seat and several heart designs laser cut into its seat and legs.
“There’s a multi-pronged reason as to why we chose to design, manufacture and donate these benches,” Blue Imp general manager Michael Rasmussen told the News. “We value our community and the support local schools have given us over the years (so) initially, we put the idea out there to our staff that we wanted to start doing more initiatives, fundraising, donations, sponsorship, stuff like that, to reciprocate.
“One of our employees came up with the idea of making a donation to local schools (of a) custom manufactured product. And we thought it would be nice to (create) an item that is very tied to youth and speaks to an active issue and topic today.”
While benches will be delivered to each of Medicine Hat’s 20 elementary schools in time for Pink Shirt Day, Rasmussen hopes their presence will help promote kindness year-round.
Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education superintendent Dwayne Zarichny shared his appreciation for the donation in a statement Tuesday.
“We are honoured to have Blue Imp provide these benches for our students,” Zarichny said. “Not only will they be well used, but they also serve as a reminder of the commitment that Blue Imp has made, not only to our students, but our community as a whole.”
In an effort to continue spreading kindness, Blue Imp will soon launch the Be Kind bench as part of its official product line, thus making the benches available to schools outside Medicine Hat for purchase.
