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Margarett Best, Minister of Health Promotion (Ontario):
I commend the City of Vaughan and the Recreational Sports Safety Taskforce for making sport
and recreational safety a priority in the community. As Minister of Health Promotion, I am very
interested in hearing about initiatives that reduce the barriers for children and youth to take
part in physical activity. I am also particularly interested in fostering an environment for
physical activity where safety is a primary focus.
Our government is committed to healthy, active and safe living initiatives. My ministry, for
example, has partnered with ThinkFirst Foundation of Canada to launch the Ontario Safe Sport
Helmet Initiative—an important component of our Injury Prevention Strategy and efforts to raise
awareness about the importance of helmet use. We assisted public health units and community
sport and recreation groups to provide free helmets to children in need. I was pleased to see
that the City of Vaughan also received free helmets for local hockey programs.
_______________________
Susan Kadis, former Member of Parliament (Thornhill): I am very pleased to offer my
support for your initiative in creating a public awareness campaign and by-law to regulate
helmet use for children participating in recreational sports activities. One of the leading causes
of injury and death in children is brain injuries sustained from recreational activities, injuries
which are easily preventable with the use of helmets. Injuries can be sustained from many
more activities than just bike riding and awareness of the life-altering dangers from
snowboarding, skiing, rollerblading and skateboarding need to be addressed.
_______________________
York Region District School Board - Bill Hogarth, Director of Education:
The York Region District School Board supports an educational campaign directed to all
residents of the City of Vaughan concerning the use of protective helmets for cycling, roller-
blading and other high risk sports. Many staff, trustees, students and school community
members throughout the York Region District School Board are very familiar with the dangers
associated with high risk sports, which are popular among many age groups. As part of a
community-wide educational campaign by the City of Vaughan, Board schools would be
pleased to facilitate the distribution of educational literature about helmet safety and head
injury prevention.
_______________________
York Catholic District School Board - Elizabeth Crowe, Chair of the Board:
It is always unfortunate and tragic when a young person suffers an injury as a result of an
unsafe activity. In recognition of this, the York Catholic District School Board is committed to
ensuring that young people engage in safe activities during the school day and trusts that the
awareness garnered at school will carry over into free time activities. The Board is also very
supportive of projects and initiatives that educate and provide greater awareness to students
and their families about appropriate safety precautions. As such, the Board continues to
endorse staff participation on the Vaughan Recreational Sports Safety Task Force which
currently is seeking to improve safety measures in respect to tobogganing, especially with the
wearing of a helmet. I understand that your committee is comprised of several knowledgeable
and committed members who understand the importance of wearing a helmet while
tobogganing and that your efforts have attracted some positive media response.
The Board also recognizes there are many who could benefit from a public awareness
campaign related to toboggan helmet safety and they would endorse these activities in your city.
In conclusion, the Board wishes to extend its congratulations to you for spearheading this
initiative. Keep up the good work!
_______________________
ThinkFirst, a national injury prevention foundation that concentrates on reducing the incidence
of major head and spinal injuries:
Testimonial - "One of our major areas of interest is the prevention of catastrophic injuries in
sports ad recreation. Thus, the City of Vaughan’s initiative to improve the safety of sports and
recreation is of major interest to us, and we are highly supportive of your efforts. ThinkFirst
strongly supports your efforts to develop an education and awareness campaign to improve the
safety of tobogganing and sledding. We applaud your efforts to educate the public about the
importance of safety in activities such as tobogganing. We strongly support the public about
the safe use of hills where tobogganing is performed."
_______________________
Bloorview Kids Rehab, Canada’s largest children’s rehabilitation hospital:
"Bloorview Kids Rehab is an expert organization that has been consulted by the City of
Vaughan's [Helmets Save Lives] in putting forth this worthy initiative."
_______________________
Safe Kids Canada: Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death among children in
Canada. We work to keep kids safe. Safe Kids Canada collaborates with partners across the
country to conduct research, raise awareness, educate families, and advocate for safer
environments to protect children from injury.
Testimonial – “Safe Kids Canada has enjoyed a collaborative and mutually beneficial
relationship with the Recreational Sports Safety Task Force and we continually look forward to
supporting efforts to enhance local action to prevent unintentional injuries to children and
youth.”
_______________________
York Region Community and Health Services mission is to protect, promote and enhance
the health, safety and well-being of our community.
Testimonial – “As a member of the Recreational Sports Safety Task Force, York Region
Community and Heath Services Department, Public Health Branch will assist the taskforce to
plan, implement, and deliver injury prevention education. The aim is to enhance positive
attitudes, knowledge and skills regarding helmet use, safe tobogganing and the prevention of
other recreational sports injuries.”
I commend the City of Vaughan and the Recreational Sports Safety Taskforce for making sport
and recreational safety a priority in the community. As Minister of Health Promotion, I am very
interested in hearing about initiatives that reduce the barriers for children and youth to take
part in physical activity. I am also particularly interested in fostering an environment for
physical activity where safety is a primary focus.
Our government is committed to healthy, active and safe living initiatives. My ministry, for
example, has partnered with ThinkFirst Foundation of Canada to launch the Ontario Safe Sport
Helmet Initiative—an important component of our Injury Prevention Strategy and efforts to raise
awareness about the importance of helmet use. We assisted public health units and community
sport and recreation groups to provide free helmets to children in need. I was pleased to see
that the City of Vaughan also received free helmets for local hockey programs.
_______________________
Susan Kadis, former Member of Parliament (Thornhill): I am very pleased to offer my
support for your initiative in creating a public awareness campaign and by-law to regulate
helmet use for children participating in recreational sports activities. One of the leading causes
of injury and death in children is brain injuries sustained from recreational activities, injuries
which are easily preventable with the use of helmets. Injuries can be sustained from many
more activities than just bike riding and awareness of the life-altering dangers from
snowboarding, skiing, rollerblading and skateboarding need to be addressed.
_______________________
York Region District School Board - Bill Hogarth, Director of Education:
The York Region District School Board supports an educational campaign directed to all
residents of the City of Vaughan concerning the use of protective helmets for cycling, roller-
blading and other high risk sports. Many staff, trustees, students and school community
members throughout the York Region District School Board are very familiar with the dangers
associated with high risk sports, which are popular among many age groups. As part of a
community-wide educational campaign by the City of Vaughan, Board schools would be
pleased to facilitate the distribution of educational literature about helmet safety and head
injury prevention.
_______________________
York Catholic District School Board - Elizabeth Crowe, Chair of the Board:
It is always unfortunate and tragic when a young person suffers an injury as a result of an
unsafe activity. In recognition of this, the York Catholic District School Board is committed to
ensuring that young people engage in safe activities during the school day and trusts that the
awareness garnered at school will carry over into free time activities. The Board is also very
supportive of projects and initiatives that educate and provide greater awareness to students
and their families about appropriate safety precautions. As such, the Board continues to
endorse staff participation on the Vaughan Recreational Sports Safety Task Force which
currently is seeking to improve safety measures in respect to tobogganing, especially with the
wearing of a helmet. I understand that your committee is comprised of several knowledgeable
and committed members who understand the importance of wearing a helmet while
tobogganing and that your efforts have attracted some positive media response.
The Board also recognizes there are many who could benefit from a public awareness
campaign related to toboggan helmet safety and they would endorse these activities in your city.
In conclusion, the Board wishes to extend its congratulations to you for spearheading this
initiative. Keep up the good work!
_______________________
ThinkFirst, a national injury prevention foundation that concentrates on reducing the incidence
of major head and spinal injuries:
Testimonial - "One of our major areas of interest is the prevention of catastrophic injuries in
sports ad recreation. Thus, the City of Vaughan’s initiative to improve the safety of sports and
recreation is of major interest to us, and we are highly supportive of your efforts. ThinkFirst
strongly supports your efforts to develop an education and awareness campaign to improve the
safety of tobogganing and sledding. We applaud your efforts to educate the public about the
importance of safety in activities such as tobogganing. We strongly support the public about
the safe use of hills where tobogganing is performed."
_______________________
Bloorview Kids Rehab, Canada’s largest children’s rehabilitation hospital:
"Bloorview Kids Rehab is an expert organization that has been consulted by the City of
Vaughan's [Helmets Save Lives] in putting forth this worthy initiative."
_______________________
Safe Kids Canada: Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death among children in
Canada. We work to keep kids safe. Safe Kids Canada collaborates with partners across the
country to conduct research, raise awareness, educate families, and advocate for safer
environments to protect children from injury.
Testimonial – “Safe Kids Canada has enjoyed a collaborative and mutually beneficial
relationship with the Recreational Sports Safety Task Force and we continually look forward to
supporting efforts to enhance local action to prevent unintentional injuries to children and
youth.”
_______________________
York Region Community and Health Services mission is to protect, promote and enhance
the health, safety and well-being of our community.
Testimonial – “As a member of the Recreational Sports Safety Task Force, York Region
Community and Heath Services Department, Public Health Branch will assist the taskforce to
plan, implement, and deliver injury prevention education. The aim is to enhance positive
attitudes, knowledge and skills regarding helmet use, safe tobogganing and the prevention of
other recreational sports injuries.”
| TESTIMONIALS |
