Muslim or not, women from all cultures were seen sporting colourful hijabs as they wandered the halls of UNBC on Tuesday.
"The students wanted to do something," said Sarah Boyd from The Northern Women's Centre, co-sponsor of the event.
"Something to raise awareness and to support Muslim women here at the university and this is what we came up with."
The purpose of the event was to show respect for fellow students who wear a hijab on campus and to support their rights to embrace their cultural and religious beliefs.
"It's to support our Muslim sisters," said Hira Rashid, a third year social work student and co-organizer of the event. "We want to show unity and support, to destigmatize and demystify the concept of the hijab. Today also allows people to have a safe space and ask questions, to get a better understanding of what the hijab means. And anyone can try one on for the day."
Staff and students dug through an array of colours and patterns before wrapping them around their heads and heading off to class or work.
"We've had a good response," said Yousra Moutil, a second year student and co-organizer of the event. We've had women wearing them all around campus and we've had great support from men also."
Most often, the hijab is worn by Muslim women today to signify modesty and privacy.
"It's a symbol of respect," said Moutil.
"Whether you are a woman from the West or the East, women are continuing to fight for the rights to their own bodies.
"Today, we just want to open up the conversation."
"We've had a lot of smiles today but the biggest smiles have been from those women who are always wearing a hijab because of the support they've seen today," said Boyd.
