Information
July 2003
West Nile virus national public education campaign
Health Canada's national West Nile (WN) virus public education campaign has been designed
to complement existing provincial activities. The goal is to reach people of all ages across
the country who spend more than two hours a week doing outdoor activities. To reach this
group, Health Canada is partnering with the retail sector, other government departments,
and non-governmental organizations.
Partnerships with the retail sector include:
- Canadian Tire stores, except in Ontario
- Coast Mountain in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Yukon
- Giant Tiger in Ontario, Québec, Manitoba and New Brunswick
- Home Depot in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec and Nova Scotia
- Home Hardware stores
- Jean Coutu in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick
- London Drugs in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan
- Mountain Equipment Co-op in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Toronto
and Montreal
- Rona stores
- Shoppers Drugmart stores
- Sport Check in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick,
Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador
- Wal-Mart Pharmacies
- Wal-Mart
- NorthWest stores
Through these retailers, information on WN virus will be available in more than 3,500
retail outlets. To ensure that smaller independent stores can also access the same information,
the information flyers and posters are available on Health
Canada's WN virus web site. Click on public education resources.
Other federal departments are also distributing information on WN virus. Parks Canada
will display posters and distribute information flyers at over 40 national parks and more
than 100 national historic sites. Communications Canada will distribute information at
Government of Canada kiosks and at many events across the country over the summer months.
Through the Canadian Public Health Association, national voluntary health organizations
are also working with Health Canada to ensure that Canadians have access to accurate information
to make informed decisions on ways to protect themselves from the risk of WN virus infection.
The Canadian Tourism Commission is also assisting in this endeavour.
Health Canada is also developing radio and television public service announcements and
print articles aimed at the general public.
Aboriginal communities, in addition to having access to Health Canada's WN virus 1-800
information number and web site, have also received a number of targeted awareness products,
including an information poster mailed to households on reserves, and an information pamphlet
sent to all nursing stations and community health centres on reserves and First Nations
communities. Radio and television public service announcements are also being developed
for distribution to Aboriginal media.
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