Building a Healthier Generation of Canadians

The Sandbox Project aims to improve health outcomes for Canadian children

OTTAWA, ON, June 12, 2013 /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, 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.

"The Sandbox Project is a national charity with a mandate to bring together leading researchers, policy makers, charities and industry to improve child and youth health in Canada," says Dr. Christine Hampson, President & CEO of The Sandbox Project. "We are focused on fostering meaningful collaboration to accelerate improvements in child and youth health in Canada with a specific focus on Injury Prevention, Mental Health, Growing Healthy Bodies and the Environment."

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 The Sandbox Project Board Chair Paul Brown, Ottawa area elementary school children, Mrs. Laureen Harper, a number of representatives of the media and child and youth health charities, and by Parliamentarians including:

• Hon. Leona Aglukkaq
• Chris Alexander
• Stella Ambler
• Scott Armstrong
• Hon. Steven Blaney
• John Carmichael
• Colin Carrie
• Linda Duncan
• Carol Hughes
• Kellie Leitch
• Hon. Peter MacKay
• Elizabeth May
• Erin O'Toole
• Hon. Lisa Raitt
• Hon. Tim Uppal
• Wai Young

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.

The Sandbox Project
www.sandboxproject.ca

SOURCE: The Sandbox Project

Scott Watson
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