FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2006

Four local schools will be able to include skating as a class outing again due to a project by "ThinkFirst Canada", who provided a class-full of helmets to four winners of a local Wear the Gear Poster contest. In the past year, public health nurses working with schools to increase physical activity were saddened to hear that many children were not able to fully participate in class skating parties because the schools were unable to provide each student with a helmet for safety on the ice.

A contest was run by Thunder Bay District Health Unit and the Thunder Bay Risk Watch Coalition where students from grades kindergarten to eight were encouraged to enter posters that promoted the use of protective gear during winter sports. Entries were received from 10 schools. Forest Park Public School, St. Jude School, White Fish Valley Public School and Nor'westerview Public School were named contest winners today. Each school will receive a class-full of helmets later this week.

Media are invited to a Photo Opportunity
The helmets will be delivered at
Forest Park Public School, 270 Windsor Street
1 pm, Monday March 27

"The students and staff at Forest Park Public School are very excited about winning this wonderful prize. The helmets will allow all of the children to participate instead of having some sit on the sidelines having to wait for a turn," says Anna-Marie Clara, Grade one teacher from Forest Park Public School.

The mission of the ThinkFirst Foundation of Canada is to prevent brain and spinal cord injury through education aimed at healthy behaviours in children and youth. Specific funding for the helmets was made available through a generous donation from Ministry of Tourism and Recreation of Ontario.

Some helmets were also distributed in schools in the district.

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