N.S. panel looking at ways to prevent injuries in school sports

Nova Scotia's education minister has tasked a panel of sports administrators, experts and athletes with examining safety in school sports after high school rugby was abruptly cancelled in the province earlier this year due to safety concerns, before being reinstated.

The17-person panel will look at ways to promote safety andprevent injuries, including concussions, according to a news release Monday from the Department of Education. It said that will involve lookingatlegislation, policies and practices related to coaching, training and safety protocols.

Education Minister Zach Churchill said rugby will be going ahead in the coming school year, regardless of the panel's findings.

"I'm excited for those [rugby] players because I know they were worried this year when the decision was made to cancel rugby, but they made a really strong case for their sport and we're just going to help ensure that we're operating at the highest safety standards in rugby and all contact sport in Nova Scotia," he said.

The minister said the group won't be considering banning any sport, but rather will be looking at ways to improve access to sport and how to encourage more young people to be healthy, active and engaged in competitive sport.

Aug. 31 deadline

The panel has met twice so far and will convene two more times before reporting back by Aug. 31. The goal will be to ensure any recommended changes are in place when school starts and sports kick off.

Students,Dr. Tina Atkinson, who works with the HalifaxMooseheads and is an expert on concussions, as well as theNova Scotia SchoolAthletic Federation (NSSAF) have made presentations to the panel, Churchill said. The group that insures school sports will also be addressing them.

The department and theNSSAF, the governing body overseeing schoolsports,committed to lookinto safety in May, the week after the federation abruptly stopped sanctioning rugby, briefly halting the high school sport's season.

Top doctors and some sports health professionals in the province swiftlyquestioned the sudden cancellation, and studentathletes across the province protested. Churchillordered the decision be reversedwithin a day.

The rugby season carried on, even though it was no longer sanctioned by NSSAF. The federation couldn't immediately be reached for comment about whether the sport will be sanctioned in the coming school year.

Churchill said he expected the panel's suggestions will help the federation make decisions about sports and safety rules.

Members of the panel include:

• Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer of health.
• Sue Taylor-Foley, executive director ofeducation innovation, programs and services, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.
• Michelle Aucoin, director ofprovincial services, Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage.
• Jamie Ferguson, CEO ofSport Nova Scotia.
• Karen Furneaux, athlete representative.
• Dr. John Gillis, emergency physician.
• Jennifer Heatley, project executive forhealth promotion, Department of Health and Wellness.
• Paul Hunter, director of development, Rugby Canada.
• Dave Jones, regional executive director ofAnnapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education.
• Stephen MacNeil, chair ofboard of governors, Nova Scotia SchoolAthletic Federation.
• David Napier, president ofBasketball Nova Scotia.
• Gerry Post, executive director ofAccessibility Directorate.
• Jennifer Russell, executive director ofAtlantic Collaborative on Injury Prevention.
• Lori Sigfridson, Tri-County Regional Centre for Education and president ofPhysical and Health Education Canada.
• Shaquille Smith, athlete representative.
• Carolyn Townsend, director ofcommunications and strategic relations, Sport Nova Scotia.
• Amy Walsh, executive director ofHockey Nova Scotia.

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