Building a Healthier Generation of Canadians - The Sandbox Project aims to improve health outcomes for Canadian children

OTTAWA, June 4, 2014 /CNW/ - Canada's leaders are playing in the sand to make a better life for the next generation. In an effort to raise awareness about The Sandbox Project, several Canadian MPs, media personalities, NGOs and business leaders were building sand castles in the world's largest sandbox on Sparks Street in Ottawa on Wednesday.

"With a specific focus on injury prevention, mental health, growing healthy bodies and the environment, The Sandbox Project is working hard to improve child and youth health in Canada," says Dr. Christine Hampson, President & CEO of The Sandbox Project. "We are facing an unprecedented future where our children have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. Quite simply, this is unacceptable."

The Sandbox Project was created to implement the recommendations from a 2008 report Reaching for the Top: A report by the Advisor on Healthy Children &Youth. The goal of the world's largest sandbox event is to raise awareness of the importance of investing and focusing on the health and wellbeing of our youngest citizens.
Christine was joined in the sandbox for a sandcastle building competition by Ottawa-area elementary school children, a number of representatives of the media and child and youth health charities, and by Parliamentarians including:

• Hon. James Moore
• Hon. Peter MacKay
• Hon. Dr. K. Kellie Leitch
• Hon. Leona Aglukkaq
• Hon. Tim Uppal
• M.P Stella Ambler
• M.P James Bezan
• Senator Dorothy Caldwell
• M.P Sean Casey
• M.P Elizabeth May
• M.P Mike Wallace

This year, The Sandbox Project is honoured to be the recipient of a $25,000 donation from Interac — with a similar $25,000 donation to the Abilites Centre in Whitby — made in the name of the late Hon. Jim Flaherty, former Finance Minister of Canada who passed away in April.

Photos of the event are available online through twitter using the hashtag #ottsandbox.

About The Sandbox Project
The vision of The Sandbox Project is to make Canada the healthiest place in the world for children and youth to grow up. It is focused on improving children and youth health outcomes with respect to injury prevention, growing healthy bodies, mental health and the environment. www.sandboxproject.ca

SOURCE: The Sandbox Project

Jacquie LaRocque, 613-614-6339, [email protected]