Fact Sheet: Funding to Prevent Injuries in the After-School Time Period
March 22, 2012
For immediate release
(Ottawa, Ontario) — On behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Federal Minister of Health, Pierre Poilievre, Member of Parliament for Nepean-Carleton, today announced support for a project to prevent injuries among young Canadians taking part in after-school sports and recreational activities.
“The after-school hours provide an important opportunity for children and youth to have fun, be active and develop good habits for lifelong healthy living,”
said Mr. Poilievre. “However, this is also a time when injuries can occur. That’s why our government is investing in a project that supports safe and active play in the after-school time period.”
Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada) will develop the Active and Safe After School project in partnership with the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association, the Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability, HIGH FIVE, and the Canadian Active After-School Partnership. Together, they will work directly with youth to identify ways in which safety in sports and recreation can be enhanced, whether on the playground, in a gymnasium or in a park. Tools and resources — including interactive games and activities, a program safety checklist, webinars on injury prevention and updated safety guidelines — will reinforce safe play for children and youth, and help parents, care-givers and after-school program providers manage safety risks.
“With funding from the Government of Canada, we are already leading a comprehensive, collaborative initiative that aims to ensure that quality after-school programs are available and accessible to all children and youth living in Canada,”
said Andrea Grantham, CEO of PHE Canada. “The Active and Safe After School project allows us to build on this work with proper training and awareness to manage safety risks in this time period.”
Through the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Active and Safe initiative, the federal government supports a number of projects that focus on preventing injuries among children and youth, and reaching Canadians in the communities where they live and play. Active and Safe encourages community level action to increase sport and recreation safety awareness.
Health Canada
Cailin Rodgers
Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Federal Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200
Media Relations
Public Health Agency of Canada
(613) 941-8189
