Young Canadians Roundtable on Health (YCRH) Inaugural Membership Announced
The Young Canadians Roundtable on Health (YCRH) has been formed in response to the interest of parents and organizations in the report, Reaching For The Top: A Report by the Advisor on Healthy Children & Youth. A group of likeminded individuals from across the country, from 17-26, they will be providing leadership on issues impacting the present and future health of Canadian youth.
We would like to thank everyone for their excellent recommendations and nominations of outstanding young Canadians.
The Roundtable’s first Chair is Brandon Bourgeois. Born in Moncton, New Brunswick, Brandon is currently studying economics at Carleton University. While in high school, Brandon was not only the captain of the varsity hockey team, but was elected as student body President as well.
Brandon Goes to London
YCRH: "I am less than a month away from heading across the Atlantic to Brighton, England to attend the 'Second International Youth Mental Health Conference,' and couldn’t be more thrilled and honored to be able to attend the event. As a representative of The Sandbox Project and the newly formed Young Canadians Roundtable on Health, I will be getting an opportunity to learn and discuss the relevant issues surrounding mental health by some of the world’s foremost experts on the subject. I am hopeful and optimistic that I will be able to leave the conference with an understanding of how we as Canadians can do a better job of helping all those who are suffering from issues relating to mental health. I am excited for the trip to get underway and look forward to being able to report back from a successful conference!”
2014 Conference Survey
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International Children’s Games - Windsor Essex: We built another sandbox!
RETURN OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST SANDBOX
On August 16th, 2013, The Sandbox Project, in partnership with Keystone General Contractors, built another sandbox as part of the “Passport to the World” event at the International Children’s Games in Windsor Essex. The box was built in support of ‘In Sport WE are One’ which promotes healthy, active living through physical activity. Children, and children-at-heart were able to enjoy some physical activity while they played in the sand.
Canada Summer Works Update
For the 2013 summer, through the Canada Summer Works Program, The Sandbox Project hired two eager and highly motivated summer students. Yane Boskoski and Judy Lan were made apart of the Sandbox team to assist with a wide variety of projects and tasks. From updating, posting, and improving our social media presence, to researching funding prospects and supporting the YCRH, The Sandbox Project and our working groups.
The Sandbox Project Summer Internship has provided Yane and Judy with a very unique opportunity. They worked directly with our President & CEO Christine Hampson, assisting her with various tasks, thus making tangible impacts on the organization.
Yane has recently graduated from Rosedale Heights School of the Arts, and is working towards becoming a police officer.
Judy is currently completing her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Toronto, majoring in Environment & Science and Human Biology.
Working Groups: Updates
Growing Healthy Bodies: The group has responded to the No Time to Wait: The Healthy Kids Strategy with some suggestions for the implementation of the report (letter here). Dr. Ian Patton and Dr. Leora Pinhas have also submitted an academic paper on the issue to CMAJ. Growing Healthy Bodies has also decided to support another round of Mitacs funding for Dr. Ian Patton and his Healthy Body Scorecard project (creating a better measurement for youth health than the BMI). The Growing Healthy Bodies working group is also responding to Toronto Public Health as they begin a study measuring student’s weight across Toronto (letter here).
Injury Prevention: Dr. Charles Tator published Concussions and their consequences: current diagnosis, management and prevention in CMAJ (article here). The Injury Prevention working group has formed two steering committees that will move forward on Concussion Education Legislation and Helmet Harmonization Legislation. If you or your organization would like to participate in either of these issues, please click here.
Environment: The Sandbox Project has supported an intern at The University of Ottawa to help the Environment working group. The working group has applied to a second round of CIHR funding titled Towards a Strategy for Preconception and Prenatal Environmental Health Education in Health Care.
Mental Health: The Youth Mental Health Engagement Network has entered a research phase. This six-month research study intends to deliver and evaluate the usability and acceptability of assessment tools and personal health records accessible on mobile devices. Participants will include up to 65 clients receiving outpatient services from one of up to 15 care providers at either the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Care Program at London Health Sciences Centre or the Adolescent Program at Regional Mental Health Care London. Quantitative and qualitative research methodology will be employed to determine the uptake of mobile health technology for youth experiencing depressive symptoms.
For more information on any of the working group initiatives, please contact us.
Partner Updates
The Sandbox Project was founded to break down silos that often form between organizations, institutions, and individuals. For a working list of The Sandbox Project Collaborating and Corporate Partners, please click here and here. To be added as a partner of The Sandbox Project, please contact us.
Jumpstart
One in three Canadian families cannot afford to enroll their children in sport or recreation activities (Vision Critical 2011). That means that many kids are missing out.
Canadian Tire Jumpstart is dedicated to removing barriers, so children can participate in organized sport and recreation. They see it as equipping kids for life, because participation in organized sport and recreation increases a child’s chance for success in life.
President’s Choice: Children’s Charity
Helping kids do anything™. Whether we’re providing support to children with special needs or ensuring hungry tummies are filled with nutritious food, President’s Choice wants to make sure kids have every opportunity to live to their full potential.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada
The mission of all Boys and Girls Clubs in Canada is to provide a safe, supportive place where children and youth can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop confidence and skills for life.
High Five Healthy Minds for Healthy Children
Healthy Minds for Healthy Children builds on Parks and Recreation Ontario’s existing expertise in healthy child development with an online training and downloadable resource to help those working with children positively influence their mental health. Developed with expertise from Dr. Stanley Kutcher and Dr. Wayne Hammond, this new training offers engagement strategies for nurturing resiliency in children and provides insights into common mental health distress or disorders that children could be experiencing.
Conference 2014: Save the date!
Once again, the annual conference will be held at the Toronto TELUS House on January 23rd, 2014. Save the date and prepare for another excellent conference!
For more information, visit our website.
Registration coming soon!
Our new office space is a ‘DREAM’ come true
We moved: We have recently moved into our new office space that has been generously donated by DREAM (Dundee Real Estate Asset Management). Come visit our new Sandbox at 30 Adelaide Street East in Toronto!
eNewsletter composed by Andrew Hall & Scott Watson