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Canada’s “Clean Air Champions” win the 2013 International Olympic Committee’s Sport and Environment Award

November 4, 2013

Charity led by various Canadian Olympians becomes first Canadian recipient of coveted IOC award

SOCHI – Yesterday, Canada’s Clean Air Champions (CAC) were awarded the 2013 International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Sport and Environment Award at the IOC World Conference on Sport and the Environment. This win makes CAC the first Canadian charity to win the esteemed international award, granted to individuals, groups and organizations that have shown initiative and taken action to drive environmental change within their communities.

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The Globe and Mail: Don’t shut disabled kids out of society

October 7, 2013

The Globe and Mail’s André Picard writes about limited social interactions for Canadian kids with physical and developmental disabilities

There are few things more heartbreaking than a child with no friends.

But being friendless is the norm for Canadian children with physical and developmental disabilities.

A new study, written by Anne Snowdon, a nurse and professor at the Odette School of Business at the University of Windsor in Ontario, shows that 53 per cent of disabled kids have no friends.

Even those with friends have very limited interactions. Outside of formal settings such as the classroom, less than two hours a week spent with their peers is the norm; only 1 per cent of children with disabilities spend an hour a day with friends.

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Canadian Injury Prevention & Safety Promotion Conference

October 3, 2013

Details on the 2013 Canadian Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Conference

What: 2013 Canadian Injury Prevention & Safety Promotion Conference

When: November 5 to 7, 2013

Where: Hilton Bonaventure, Montreal

Conference theme: Evidence to Action: Prevent Injury and Violence Now!

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The Sandbox Project Growing Healthy Bodies Working Group commends Toronto Public Health on not sending ‘Fat Letters’; warns of negative repercussions of weighing kids

September 10, 2013

The Sandbox Project’s Growing Healthy Bodies Working Group writes letter to Toronto Public Health to identify key issues to consider in its BMI study

To Whom It May Concern,

On behalf of The Sandbox Project charity and our Growing Healthy Bodies Working Group, we would first like to commend you on initiating the Body Mass Index (BMI) Study, to be held in schools next year. As a national child and youth health charity, we are encouraged that you have made this a priority to invest in the health of children as they truly are our future. While this study is a valuable resource that identified one measurement of the status of Toronto children’s health, there are some issues that have been identified by our Growing Healthy Bodies Working Group experts that we would like to bring to your attention.

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Windsor Sandbox and International Children’s Games a Success!

August 22, 2013

The Sandbox Project travelled to Windsor Ontario last week to participate in the 2013 International Children’s Games

In an effort to raise awareness of the importance and power of collaboration in tackling child and youth health issues, The Sandbox Project is brought its signature event, “The World’s Largest Sandbox” to The International Children’s Games on August 16th! While The World’s Largest Sandbox  is held annually in Ottawa each June to raise the awareness of child and youth health issues with public officials, this event focused on our not-for-profit partners and families from the Windsor-Essex community. Joining The Sandbox Project in the Sandbox was AllerGen NCE, Play Safe and Parachute – three of our great partners!

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National Post: New concept of physical literacy has parents wondering if they need to teach their kids how to play now, too

June 15, 2013

National Post’s Sarah Boesveld writes about parents and physical literacy

Sara Smeaton used to write notes to excuse herself from gym class — and she got her mother to write them too. A dancer, gymnast and swimmer as a kid, she ditched the pool at age 10 after she was put in a lonely synchronized swimming class.

“You can’t synchronize swim by yourself without feeling like a huge loser,” says the Toronto mother of two. That was the “turning point” — the moment she decided she was just not “sporty.” A sedentary adolescence took hold.

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