Ontario Protecting Nipissing Athletes Through Concussion Safety
June 10, 2019NORTH BAY – Ontario’s government for the people is making it safer for Nipissing’s competitive amateur athletes, children and youth to play sport.
“With the spirit and story of Rowan Stringer’s preventable passing, Ontario’s government for the people is making sport safer by raising awareness about concussion safety,” said Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli. “Reducing the risk of concussions is always the goal, but concussions happen. Knowing what to do if a concussion happens – whether you’re an athlete, a student, a parent, a coach, an official or an educator – saves lives.”
Today, Michael Tibollo, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport joined by Hockey Hall of Famer and concussion advocate Eric Lindros, officially launched the Rowan’s Law awareness campaign. The goal of the campaign is to help young athletes, their parents and coaches across the province recognize the signs of a concussion.
The campaign was launched with the “Hit. Stop. Sit.” concussion safety video that has been playing in cinemas and will be running over the next few weeks. Through video, print, and social media, the Rowan’s Law awareness campaign will change the conversation about how concussions are handled in amateur sport. The campaign encourages coaches, parents and players to stop celebrating the “warriors” who jump back in the game after a concussion — and instead recognize the serious brain injuries that concussions represent.
Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Children, Community, and Social Services, sponsored Rowan’s Law (Concussion Safety) in the Legislative Assembly, where it passed with unanimous support in March 2018. Ontario is a world leader in concussion safety and is the first jurisdiction in Canada to pass concussion safety legislation.