November 8, 2005

News Release

Minister of State Carolyn Bennett Receives National Award of Excellence for her Work in Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion

Halifax, November 8 - The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of State (Public Health, has been awarded the first National Award of Excellence for Outstanding Leadership and Dedication to Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion in Canada.

The award presentation took place at a gala dinner last night sponsored by the 2005 Canadian Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Conference being held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, November 6 to 8.

Minister Bennett was chosen as the first recipient of this award by the organizers of the Conference - the Safe Communities Foundation, Safe Kids Canada, SMARTRISK and the Think First Foundation of Canada.

In accepting the award, Minister Bennett stated: "I am honoured and gratified to have been chosen for this award. The issue of injury prevention and safety promotion is one that has been of primary importance to me, from my roots on the board of the Royal Lifesaving Society of Canada, as a physician and now as the Minister of State for public health."

"Injury prevention is a complex issue with sweeping implications for all aspects of our society. We all know the figures, but they still bear repeating. In 2002, more than 13,000 Canadians suffered fatal injuries, more than 200,000 were admitted to hospital, and an even larger number were treated in emergency departments. Preventing injury is key to improving public health and reducing the burden downstream on the health care system."

She also thanked the organizers of the conference for providing a forum to discuss the important issue of injury prevention. "This conference has been a great opportunity to share best practices, explore new ideas and build even stronger alliances. It's a time to celebrate past accomplishments, and a time to get re-energized for the work still ahead."

The award was presented to the Minister, on behalf of the four national stakeholders, by Dr. Robert Conn, President of SMARTRISK, who stated: "Minister Bennett is a strong advocate of injury prevention and it is very fitting that she be the first recipient of this award."

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Media Inquiries:

Aggie Adamcyzk
Public Health Agency of Canada
(613) 941-8189