Summary
Today marks the fourth-annual Rowan’s Law Day in Ontario. Celebrated annually on the last Wednesday in September to raise awareness of concussions and concussion safety, Rowan’s Law and Rowan’s Law Day were established to honour Rowan Stringer, a high school rugby player from Nepean who died in the spring of 2013 from a condition known as second impact syndrome (swelling of the brain caused by a subsequent injury that occurred before a previous injury healed). The legislation was brought forward by then MPP Lisa MacLeod, now Ontario’s Minister of Sport.
To recognize Rowan’s Law Day, Minister MacLeod was joined by Associate Minister Tibollo to announce the Ontario government is investing $125,000 in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division, to help raise awareness of the impact of sports-related injuries on mental health and provide educational resources to coaches and parents to help them recognize the symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression to ensure young athletes receive the essential supports they need to thrive.
The government today also released the third Rowan’s Law progress report, profiling the province’s leadership in the field of concussion safety.
Key Messages
- This year marks the fourth-annual Rowan’s Law Day as sports safely return in Ontario communities and schools. Rowan’s Law remains the cornerstone on which the government is committed to building a safe sport culture for all athletes.
- To continue building on the international success of Rowan’s Law, which has created a safer environment for athletes to play sports, the Ontario government is investing up to $125,000 in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division This investment will raise awareness of the impact of sports on mental health and provide parents and coaches with tools to ensure athletes receive the essential supports they need to thrive.
· No athlete should be subject to physical or mental harm when participating in sport. Providing resources for athletes, coaches and parents to help build awareness of the impact of sport-related injuries on mental heath, how to recognize symptoms and what to do is an essential step in ensuring a safe return to play.
· The Ontario government today also released the third Rowan’s Law progress report, profiling the province’s leadership in the field of concussion safety. The report outlines the successful implementation of the majority of the recommendations of the Rowan’s Law Advisory Committee.
· Ontario is a world leader in concussion safety and the first jurisdiction in Canada to pass concussion safety legislation. It is imperative that we recognize Rowan’s Law Day and continue to raise awareness around concussions. This includes understanding the lingering impacts concussions have on an athlete’s physical, emotional and mental health. Knowing what to do if a concussion happens – whether you are an athlete, a student, a parent, a coach, an official or an educator – can save lives.