News Release: Harper Government Announces Injury Prevention Funding
Sports- and recreation-related injuries make up a significant proportion of unintentional injuries among children and youth up to age 19. In fact, 40 per cent of child and youth injuries treated in Canadian emergency departments are sports- and recreation-related. While the Government of Canada encourages Canada’s children and youth to become more active and live healthy lifestyles, it is also important to ensure their safety while being active.
Through the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Active and Safe injury prevention initiative, the Government of Canada is investing $5 million over two years to support a number of community-based projects that empower young Canadians to make safe choices when they get involved in sports and recreational activities.
Today’s funding announcement of close to $200,000 will support 2 projects:
The Yukon First Nations Youth – Back to the Land project, led by the Kwanlin Dun First Nation, in partnership with the Kwanlin Dun Elders Council, will promote injury prevention knowledge and skills among First Nations youth leaders so they can encourage children and youth to learn ways to participate safely in traditional and contemporary outdoor activities. Youth leaders will learn injury prevention techniques related to land-based and water-focused activities such as fishing, canoeing, hiking, archery and snowshoeing, and contemporary land-based activities such as snowmobiling and skiing. With support from their communities, youth leaders will then promote safety messages directly to their peers so they learn ways to stay active and safe.
Active and Safe Yukon– Building Multi-sectoral Collaboration in Recreational Snow Sports for Children and Youth, led by the Arctic Institute of Community-Based Research in partnership with the Injury Prevention Coalition of Yukon, will review best practices related to injury prevention, help children and youth learn ways to play safely so they can avoid being injured during sports or recreational activities, and develop an online tool to help connect organizations working to prevent injuries across the Yukon.
