Bill C-289, a Private Members’ Bill to the House of Commons requiring all recreational snow sport helmets not approved by the Canadian Standards Association to be prohibited under the Hazardous Products Act.

Please take a few minutes out of your busy day to e-mail your Member of Parliament AND the Minister of Health, The Hon. Leona AGLUKKAQ, P.C.

Save a person from a possible serious brain injury or death and write that e-mail to your Member of Parliament AND the Minister of Health supporting Bill C-289!

Read the Press Release outlining the importance of this Bill

You can find your Member of Parliament.

The Minister of Health’s e-mail is Aglukkaq.L@parl.gc.ca

OTTAWA – The Honourable Dr. Hedy Fry, Member of Parliament for Vancouver-Centre and Chair of the BC Liberal Caucus, today re-introduced Bill C-289, a Private Members’ Bill to the House of Commons requiring all recreational snow sport helmets not approved by the Canadian Standards Association to be prohibited under the Hazardous Products Act.

Currently, helmets for hockey and lacrosse are regulated under hazardous-products legislation, but helmets for sports such as snowboarding and skiing are not.

“As a physician, I have seen the tragedy of brain injuries and the wastage of human potential caused by unprotected sport activities,” explained Dr. Fry. “The worst part is that it is now 2 years since I introduced this Bill, and since I pleaded with the Minister of Health to implement these changes through Cabinet.”

“This is not only a medical and safety issue – it is good public policy,” said Dr. Fry. “It is estimated that recreational head injuries cost Canadian taxpayers over $100 million each year.”

Dr. Fry’s bill also has the support of the Canadian Medical Association, and of helmet-safety expert Richard Kinar of the Brian Injury Association of Canada.

“A report by Ski Canada tells us that some ski and snowboard helmets for sale in Canada offer no more protection than putting a bag of milk over your head,” said Kinar. “The Conservative government continues to ignore this important health issue.”

Contact:
Daniel Rubinstein, Office of the Hon. Hedy Fry, P.C., M.P., (613) 220-0275
fryh0@parl.gc.ca

GATINEAU, Québec—The Brain Injury Association of Canada (BIAC) calls on Canadians to contact their Member of Parliament and declare their support for Private Members Bill C-289, which would amend the Hazardous Products Act so as to prohibit the advertising, sale, or import into Canada, of recreational snow sport helmets that do not meet a national standard. The amendment is being re-introduced, today, by the Honourable Dr. Hedy Fry (Vancouver Centre), in an attempt to have it passed by Cabinet through an Order-in-Council.

“It would be significant if this is done in time for Canada’s 2010 Olympics,” explains Dr. Fry. The Canadian Medical Association, BIAC, and various organizations which promote preventable injuries, are all in support of this proposed amendment to the law.
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Mike Coyle will be a guest speaker at the Toronto’s 5th Annual Hawaiian Oyster Odyssey on February 2

At the age of 15, Mike Coyle was struck by a car while crossing a street in Toronto. The impact caused his head to shatter the car’s windshield. After the accident, Coyle was placed in a drug induced coma for 24 hours due to the hemorrhaging in his brain that the impact had caused.

Then a student at St. Michael’s College with an interest in hockey, Coyle had trouble in school after the accident and was forced to quit hockey altogether. He struggled to stay awake in class and had to work with a scribe and speech pathologist to keep up with his work. He eventually had to transfer to another school due to his struggles.
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For Immediate Release
Attention: Assignment, Health, Lifestyle and City Editors

– The Brain Injury Association of Canada to name Insurance Bureau of Canada as title sponsor of new campaign.

(Toronto) – Torontonians will be shedding their winter gear for tropical threads this year at Toronto’s 5th Annual Hawaiian Oyster Odyssey.

The event will take place on Groundhog Day Monday, February 2nd at Chega Restaurant, 3391 Yonge Street from 6 to 9 pm. It kicks off a milestone year for the Brain Injury Association of Canada (BIAC) with Hawaiian Oyster Odyssey (HOO) events taking place for the first time in every province across Canada.
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GATINEAU, Québec – The Brain Injury Association of Canada (BIAC) has invited the Canadian Lacrosse Association (CLA) to consider establishing helmet rules similar to those announced, January 15, by the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The OHL’s new resolution means a player can now be handed a penalty and suspension if their helmet is ever removed while on the ice, and is aimed at players who lose their helmets during fights, intentionally or not.

While the new rule does not eliminate fighting, it will reduce the risk of brain injury to a player. “People have to realize that the brain is the human body’s hard drive, and injuring it, even slightly, can result in immediate or future consequences,” says Harry Zarins, BIAC executive director and former athletic director at Concordia University, who wholeheartedly supports the OHL’s decision and encourages the rest of Canada’s hockey leagues and Lacrosse Canada to follow suit.
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NEWS RELEASE, December 18, 2008

GATINEAU, Québec – With the holiday season upon Canadians, the Brain Injury Association of Canada (BIAC) urges one and all to bear in mind that car crashes are the number one cause of acquired brain injury. Drivers who resist ‘holiday’ egg nog and other alcoholic drinks greatly reduce their risk of being involved in an accident which may harm them and others.

“At this time of year our call for safety is tied to reducing car crashes, and thus the number of people who become brain injury survivors,” explains BIAC executive director, Harry Zarins. Mothers Against Drunk Driving reveal that over 47% (2005 statistics) of North American car accidents occurring during the last week of December are caused by impaired driving.

Driving while drunk increases your chances of reacting too slowly to avoid even a slow-moving accident. Even a mild blow to the head can result in a lifelong, silent and unseen acquired brain injury; and serve as a sobering reminder that that nip of festive cheer wasn’t worth it—to you, or your family and friends. If you choose to drink, choose not to drive. BIAC strongly supports and applauds organizations, such as Operation Nez Rouge/Operation Red Nose.

Treating preventable injuries, such as acquired brain injury, costs Canadians $14.7 billion per year. This sum further compromises Canadian business in these economic times, lowers our standard of living, and strains our publicly funded health care system.

The Brain Injury Association of Canada wishes all Canadians a safe and happy holiday season.

Contributions to the Brain Injury Association can be made directly via our Donations Page, or through CanadaHelps.org.

BIAC is funded by the generosity of donors, as well as sponsors of its national Hawaiian Oyster Odyssey events.

For more information, please contact:
Harry Zarins, Executive Director
Brain Injury Association of Canada
1-866-977-2493
harry.zarins@biac-aclc.ca

FOR RELEASE: December 12, 2008

GATINEAU, Québec – The Brain Injury Association of Canada (BIAC) salutes a recent policy requiring all of BC Hockey’s minor hockey coaches and on-ice personnel to wear a Canadian Standards Association approved helmet during all BC Hockey sanctioned events. BIAC congratulates and supports all sporting associations who adopt helmet regulations for minor hockey coaches.

The new regulation, which went into effect December 1st, 2008, had been in the works for some time, and is meant to prevent the kinds of head injuries which saw one coach slip, hit the ice, and fracture his skull, while another similar accident put a second coach in a coma. A tragic third incident, this past October, saw Strathmore midget AAA coach Ron Ebbesen die after falling to the ice and striking his head.
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BIAC is pleased to announce a partnership with Boulevard Travel in Calgary, Alberta.

Boulevard Travel will be supporting BIAC by contributing a portion of their service fee back to BIAC for all travel booked under the BIAC Brand be it for BIAC, your business or personal travel. All you have to do is say that you are a BIAC member or Friend of BIAC and they will credit our association.

As well, when the BIAC reaches a specific level, Boulevard Travel will contribute a significant door prize towards the HOO’S National 2nd or 3rd prize.

To book your travel needs contact Jan Wainwright at 403-802-4272 or e-mail her at janw@boulevardtravel.com or at 1-800-760-4009

On behalf of the Brain Injury Association of Canada, I would like to thank Boulevard Travel and its President, Kevin Murphy, President for their support.

Gatineau, Quebec – The Brain Injury Association of Canada (BIAC) is asking Canadians to speak with political candidates and elected members of parliament about the lack of development of a national injury prevention strategy. The 2008 federal election period is the most opportune stage to bring this need forward for discussion.

Treating preventable injuries costs Canadians $14.7 billion per year. This price is putting Canadian business at an economic disadvantage, lowering our standard of living, and putting the publicly funded health care system at risk. BIAC asks Canadians to ask our politicians whether they believe supporting a national injury development strategy is worth the lives that could be saved.
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