TVOKids 'Gisèle's Big Back Yard' program to receive Fire Safety Award

TORONTO, June 4, 2013 /CNW/ - TVOKids Gisèle's Big Back Yard will receive a Fire Safety Award from the Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council at a ceremony on June 12, 2013 in Toronto. The annual Fire Safety Awards recognize outstanding contributions to fire protection and prevention in Ontario.

Gisèle's Big Back Yard is TVOKids Gemini Award-winning programming for children aged 2 to 5. It airs weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and provides programs and online activities that help prepare kids for success in school and beyond.

Through information and on-camera expertise, Barrie Fire and Emergency Services continue to have a long-standing partnership with TVOKids. Together they have developed short fire safety videos geared to kids under the age of 11 and Barrie Fire and Emergency Services has appeared on Gisèle's Big Back Yard to provide fire safety messaging for the program's pre-school audience. Most recently, eight fire safety videos and a fire safety song were developed and aired on Gisèle's Big Back Yard.

In addition to these fire safety segments, blogs on the TVOParents.com website have provided information and materials for parents and caregivers about smoke alarms, home fire escape planning and other fire safety issues.

"Working with TVOKids Gisèle's Big Back Yard has enabled Barrie Fire and Emergency Services to reach and engage vulnerable youngsters with important fire safety messages," said Ted Wieclawek, Ontario Fire Marshal and Chair, Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council.

The Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council gratefully acknowledges the support of its sponsors in this event: Technical Standards and Safety Authority, The Co-operators Group, Kidde Canada Inc., Home Depot of Canada Inc., Proctor & Gamble Inc., Electrical Safety Authority, CSA Group, Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc., Roxul Inc. and Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada.

SOURCE: Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council

Carol Gravelle, Office of the Fire Marshal, 416-325-3138