News Release
Halifax Regional Municipality on Right Track to be the Safest Place in Canada to Live, Learn, Work and Play
(Wednesday, October 3, 2007) - To celebrate the first Safe Communities Canada Day, HRM released very encouraging results of HRM’s participation in Safe Communities Canada’s first National Report Card measuring the capacity of designated safe communities in Canada to take action and promote safety and reduce avoidable injury. HRM received a perfect score. The results show that HRM is on the right track to being the safest place in Canada to live, learn, work and play.
Today, across the country, designated members of Safe Communities Canada will be celebrating Canada’s first Safe Communities Canada Day with various ceremonies and activities including releasing individual community report card results, announcing the recipients of volunteer and business safety ambassador awards and numerous workshops, symposiums and displays, all celebrating the significant achievements the network has made in ten years.
HRM is supporting the first Safe Communities Canada Day by holding an awareness event at the Halifax Grand Parade with safety exhibitors, music by the Sons of Maxwell, BBQ, proclamation from the Mayor and the unveiling of their new logo.
HRM is very proud of its accomplishments since becoming a designated member of Safe Communities Canada, including bringing Risk Watch to the Halifax Regional School Board (40 schools); promoting playground, child seat and seat belt safety across HRM; facilitating the collation of information related to falls in seniors; supporting the suicide prevention symposium and distribution of information packages to physicians across the region; successfully bringing HRM on as a Passport to Safety employer; and working to bring a Children’s Safety Village to HRM.
Roy Hollett, Deputy Chief of Safety & Strategic Initiatives said, “Our volunteers, community partners and residents of HRM are a significant part of this success and we thank them for their time, effort and expertise. These are the people who we celebrate today as we join communities across Canada to celebrate the first Safe Communities Canada Day.” Hollett added.
Safe Communities Canada founder Paul Kells released the National Report Card in Toronto today. “The national results demonstrate that Canadian communities like HRM remain international leaders in the implementation and growth of effective programs, products and services allowing our children, grandparents, co-workers and neighbours to live in safer environments” Mr. Kells said. “The overall results paint a very positive picture of the designated safe communities across the country. They are pragmatically engaged and they have a sense of pride and accomplishment” he added.
In the Community report card, HRM was noted for community strengths including sustainability, the Safe Community Leadership Table’s demonstration of its role as a champion through increasing awareness of safety priorities, its impressive range of community cross-representation, including significant volunteer representation and community participation, and its active involvement with Safe Communities Canada.
HRM is a designated member of Safe Communities Canada and is dedicated to making its community the safest place to live, learn, work and play.
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For Information:
Jeanette MacKay
Safe Communities Coordinator
490-6530
225-7432 (cell)
mackayj@halifax.ca
