Building sandcastles to boost children’s health

Schoolchildren build sandcastles in the world’s largest sandbox on Sparks St. in downtown Ottawa at an event to raise awareness about The Sandbox Project on June 13. (NTD)

MP Olivia Chow (L) and fellow participants pose next to a sand sculpture of a bear that they helped to build at an event on Sparks St. in downtown Ottawa on June 13 to raise awareness of The Sandbox Project. The vision of the project, founded by MP Dr. Kellie Leitch, is to make Canada the healthiest place in the world for children to grow up. (NTD)

OTTAWA—Children’s health took centre stage in downtown Ottawa on Wednesday as elected officials and community leaders joined children to play in the “world’s largest sandbox” to raise awareness about a project aiming to build a healthier Canadian population.

The Sandbox Project was founded by Dr. Kellie Leitch, Conservative member of Parliament for Simcoe-Grey, following a study she conducted in 2007 for the federal government as Canada’s Advisor on Healthy Children & Youth.

The report discovered that although Canada is one of the world’s wealthiest country and has a universal health care system, it lags behind its peer nations in the realms of well-being, obesity, and other child health issues.

“Ranked among the lowest of OECD countries in children’s health and wellness, Canada needs to invest in the health and wellness of our children and youth in the same way that we invest in infrastructure, or science and technology,” Leitch stated in a handout document noting why the project is important.

“Kids are our future, and they are fundamental to our nations economic success in an increasingly competitive world.”

“The Sandbox Project is focused on fostering collaboration and knowledge to ensure Canada becomes the healthiest place in the world in which to raise children,” Dr. Christine Hampson, CEO of The Sandbox Project, said in a news release.

“This is the first generation of children in history that is expected to have a shorter lifespan than their parents. That is unacceptable, and it is incumbent on us to change that trend,” she added.

The Sandbox Project focuses on four areas: preventing childhood injuries, improving mental health and mental health care for children and youth, growing healthy bodies, and gaining a better understanding of environmental impacts on children’s health and of ways to protect children.

Participants at the event on Sparks Street, which featured speeches and sand sculpture competitions, included members of the three largest federal parties as well as media personalities and business leaders.

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Schoolchildren build sandcastles in the world's largest sandbox on Sparks St. in Ottawa at an event to raise awareness about The Sandbox Project on June 13. (NTD)

MP Dr. Kellie Leitch, founder of The Sandbox Project, speaks at the June 13 event in Ottawa to raise awareness of the project whose mission is to make Canada the healthiest place in the world for kids to grow up. The project is focused on improving health outcomes with respect to injury prevention, obesity, mental health, and the environment. (NTD)

MP Justin Trudeau participates in the sandcastle competitions in Ottawa on June 13 to help raise awareness of The Sandbox Project. (NTD)

Schoolchildren build sandcastles in the world's largest sandbox on Sparks St. in downtown Ottawa at an event to raise awareness about The Sandbox Project on June 13. (NTD)