News Release                                                

For Immediate Release

  July 6, 2009

“Where’s the Shade” – Ugliest Schoolyard Contest awards two Grey Bruce schools with funds for trees and shade structures

Two Grey Bruce elementary schools will receive funds for trees and shade structures to transform their schoolyards and protect children from the damaging effects of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Notre Dame Catholic School, Owen Sound, and Holy Family School, Hanover, are the Grey Bruce winners of the Southwest Public Health Skin Cancer Prevention Network’s Ugliest Schoolyard Contest. Each school receives $1000 for shade projects, with work to be complete before the end of the calendar year, pending Boards of Education approval of plans. The two local schools are among 25 winners from across the Southwest Region.

Public health units across Southwestern Ontario invited all elementary schools and parent councils to submit entries that included photographs of their current schoolyard and plans to increase shade in their schoolyard. The Southwest Public Health Skin Cancer Prevention Network received 55 creative and innovative entries for the Ugliest Schoolyard Contest. 

“Southwestern Ontario elementary schools could benefit from the addition of trees and shade structures to provide protection from the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays.” says Public Health Nurse, Karen Croker. “Frequent sun exposure and sunburns before age 18 increase the risk of developing malignant melanomas later in life.”

Children are at school during the highest risk period of the day between 10 am and 4 pm and spend a significant amount of this time outdoors (1-3 hours per day) for recess, lunch, physical education, field trips, outdoor education and extra-curricular activities. Shade is effective protection from UV exposure.

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For More Information:

Karen Croker,

Public Health Nurse,

Grey Bruce Health Unit

519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext 1413