A local tradition dedicated to promoting kindness is back for its 16th consecutive year.
The Lloydminster and District Co-op has launched the 2026 Kindness Wins campaign, continuing a mission of inclusion that has raised over $56,000 since it first began in 2011. This year’s effort will see the Lakeland College Rustlers Women’s Hockey Team onboard with a new apparel design in support of the campaign.
​With National Pink Shirt Day set for February 25, this year’s campaign aims to expand its impact through new community partnerships and funding opportunities.
​New design partnership
​This year’s campaign features a design partnership with the Lakeland College Rustlers Women’s Hockey Team.
​”The Rustlers Women’s Hockey Team brings an incredible spirit of leadership, teamwork, and community pride—values that align beautifully with Kindness Wins,” the Co-op stated.
To celebrate this collaboration, this year’s special-edition apparel is featured in a signature “Rustlers Green.”
​Moving forward, the campaign plans to select different partner organizations annually to collaborate on shirt designs, using the creative process as a fresh way to engage the community and drive fundraising.
​Empowering schools and rural communities
​Proceeds from the 2026 initiative will once again benefit Beyond Borders Circle of Change. These funds are vital for sustaining anti-bullying programming, specialized training, and student-led initiatives across regional schools.
​However, the 2026 campaign marks a significant milestone with the introduction of the Kindness Wins Rural Grants. Recognizing that the need for kindness knows no municipal boundaries, Lloyd Co-op is opening up funding opportunities for:
- ​Rural schools
- ​Community groups
- ​Local organizations within the regional trading area
​These grants allow groups outside Lloydminster to apply for financial support to kickstart their own kindness-focused projects.
​The story behind Pink Shirt Day
​The Kindness Wins campaign serves as a local legacy for a movement that started in Nova Scotia in 2007. After a Grade 9 student was bullied for wearing pink, two classmates bought and distributed dozens of pink shirts to their peers. By the following day, three-quarter of the school was wearing pink, sparking a global movement that Lloydminster continues to champion today.
Pink Shirt Day is observed on the last Wednesday of February.
Show your support
​Residents can purchase the limited-edition apparel while supplies last at the following locations:
- ​Lloydminster Co-op Marketplace
- ​Neilburg Grocery Store
- ​Gas Bars: 18th Street, Hamptons, Ironwells, and North Stop.
