World's Largest Sandbox

News Release: The World’s Largest Sandbox returns to Ottawa’s Sparks Street

The Sandbox Project aims to improve health outcomes for Canadian children

OTTAWA, September 19th, 2018 - Canada’s leaders are playing in the sandbox to build a healthier generation of Canadians. On Wednesday, Canadian Members of Parliament, NGO’s, families and industry professionals teamed up to build sandcastles at the World’s Largest Sandbox event on Sparks Street in Ottawa. Hosted by The Sandbox Project, the World’s Largest Sandbox event aims to raise awareness of the importance of collaborating and investing in child and youth health issues.

“This annual event honours the work of the individuals and organizations who are working tirelessly to move the dial on Canadian child and youth health outcomes,” said Christine Hampson, President and CEO of The Sandbox Project. “But it’s also about recognizing that we have a long way to go. As a country, we need to work better together to support the health, safety, and well-being of kids in all areas of Canada.” 

Playing together in a friendly sandcastle competition were Ottawa elementary school students, representatives of the media, corporate Canada, child and youth health organizations, and Members of Parliament, including Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, MP for Simcoe-Grey and founder of The Sandbox Project. Also spotted in the sandbox were:

  • Senator Colin Deacon

  • Kerry Diotte, MP (Edmonton Griesbach)

  • Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

  • Rosemarie Falk, MP (Battlefords—Lloydminster)

  • Marilyn Gladu (Sarnia-Lambton)

  • Hon. Carol Hughes, MP (Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing) and Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons

  • Hon. Peter Kent, MP (Thornhill)

  • Hon. Mike Lake, MP (Edmonton—Wetaskiwin)

  • John Nater, MP (Perth—Wellington)

  • Hon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health

  • Jati Sidhu, MP (Mission-Matsqui—Fraser Canyon)

  • David Yurdiga, MP (Fort McMurray—Cold Lake )

The gigantic Sandbox structure was built through in-kind donations and hard-working volunteers from Coco Paving, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America Local 93 and Lafarge. Fruit and yogurt snacks were provided for participating children by McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada.

Supporters of The Sandbox Project include TELUS, the AstraZeneca Young Health Program, Dream Unlimited and 65 King East - A Carttera Development.

Photos of the event are available online by following @SandboxCanada and #OTTsandbox.

About The Sandbox Project

The Sandbox Project is a national registered charity working to improve the health and wellbeing of Canadian children and youth by fostering education, sharing knowledge and resources and developing policy through private-public collaborations. As an umbrella organization, Sandbox provides strategic leadership, facilitates collaboration and drives innovation among like-minded, child-focused organizations within Canada’s child and youth health arena.

For Further Information, please email us. For more pictures of the event, check out our Twitter Moment.

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EduTOX Video Challenge winner Asha Mior, 14

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EduTOX winner Asha Mior shares her adventures at the 2016 World's Largest Sandbox

The day that I found out that I won the EduTOX Video Challenge, I screamed. A $1400 scholarship and a trip to Ottawa? What an opportunity! 

In early June, my family and I travelled to Ottawa to attend the World’s Largest Sandbox Event! The event, which takes place on Sparks Street in downtown Ottawa, allows parliamentarians, non-profit organizations, and local kids to come together to raise awareness of the health of Canadian children.  

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Engaging Youth in Conversations about Toxic Chemicals through the EduTOX Video Challenge

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While the use of chemical substances can improve our standard of living, many can cause unintended health effects. Chemical substances that we encounter in day-to-day life can be determined hazardous based on factors including toxicity – the potential of a chemical to be harmful – and the route and duration of exposure. Studies have shown that one’s exposure to chemical substances can begin as early as the embryo and fetus development phase, through the blood vessels of the placenta in the womb. Hazardous chemicals like mercury, lead, BPA, asbestos, phthalates and many others can be inhaled, ingested, or even absorbed through the skin and pose a great risk to human health. As the use of chemical substances and additives increases with each generation, so too does the risk to all children and youth. So how do we take action and inform youth about the impacts of these potential toxins?

By making them a part of the solution of course!

Media Release: World's Largest Sandbox 2016

The World's Largest Sandbox: Playtime with purpose

OTTAWA, June 8, 2016 - Canada’s leaders were in the sandbox today to help build a healthier generation of Canadians. To raise awareness about The Sandbox Project, Parliamentarians, media personalities, not-for-profit and industry professionals joined 70 local schoolchildren and families to build sand sculptures in the Fifth Annual World’s Largest Sandbox on Ottawa’s Sparks Street.