Fast Flowing Water Safety curriculum package in schools this fall

City of Greater Sudbury Councillor Joscelyne Landry-Altmann, Chair of the Junction Creek Safety Committee, presents the Fast Flowing Water Safety curriculum package to Norm Blaseg, Director of Education for Rainbow District School Board. As part of the package, students in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 will be introduced to Millie the Muskrat, a mascot who advocates for safety along fast water bodies.

Elementary schools in Greater Sudbury will receive a Fast Flowing Water Safety curriculum package at the start of the new school year. As part of the package, students in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 will be introduced to Millie the Muskrat, a mascot who advocates for safety along fast water bodies.

The Junction Creek Safety Committee developed the resources in English, French and Ojibwe as part of the Remember Me, Adam “D” educational campaign. Adam Dickie drowned in Junction Creek on August 25, 2007. Twenty-two lives have been lost in Junction Creek and numerous drownings have occurred in other fast bodies of water in the Greater Sudbury area.

“Anything can happen when water levels rise,” said Councillor Joscelyne Landry-Altmann, Chair of the Junction Creek Safety Committee. “Children who consider fast flowing water as a play area during high run off or hazardous periods could suffer dangerous consequences.”

Research shows that education, instead of fencing and signage, is the most effective shoreline safety strategy. “Rather than physical barriers, the World Health Organization has commented that the most promising drowning prevention strategy for children involves targeted awareness-raising programs, establishing a psychological fencing through educational initiatives,” said Councillor Landry-Altmann.

Rainbow District School Board Director of Education, Norm Blaseg, praised the Junction Creek Safety Committee for developing the curriculum package in three languages. “Safety is always our first priority,” said Director Blaseg. “These curriculum resources will go a long way in preventing further tragedies.”

He added: “We commend the City of Greater Sudbury, the many educators, students and sponsors who came together to develop the lesson plans. Millie the Muskrat is a great role model for shoreline safety who will appeal to children and adults alike.” 

The curriculum package has activities for various grade levels, information on the dangers of fast flowing waters and safety tips. The kit also includes a DVD, a Millie the Muskrat puppet, maps of the waterways in the City of Greater Sudbury, a list of vocabulary, stories, colouring books and information to “stay clear, stay safe” around dams, hydroelectric stations and surrounding waterways.
 
One-third of the City of Greater Sudbury is covered by water. There are hundreds of kilometers of rivers, creeks and streams in the Greater Sudbury area.

The new school year begins the day after Labour Day. The first day of school is Tuesday, September 4, 2012 for all area school boards, including Rainbow District School Board, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, le Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario and le Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l’Ontario. There will be no early dismissal on the first day.

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Media Contact:
Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171, ext. 7217.