Sport Manitoba – Oct. 21, 2019 – WINNIPEG, MB – Last month, more than 50 people attended a free seminar at Sport Manitoba called We are Headstrong – an Evening for Concussion Awareness put on by the Sport Medicine and Science Council of Manitoba (SMSCM) that consisted of an educational presentation and panel discussion about the seriousness of concussions, specifically as it relates to sport.

“Manitoba is a leader when it comes to working with all sport partners to ensure athletes are protected through the development and implementation of concussion protocols within their sport, and we must make it our goal to ensure everyone participates safely,” said Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Cathy Cox. “As the mother of three sons who grew up playing soccer, hockey and baseball, I know firsthand how important it is for us to keep promoting safety in sports.”

At the seminar, a presentation was delivered by Dr. Ellis, Medical Director at Pan Am Clinic’s Concussion Program, followed by a panel discussion that was moderated by 680 CJOB Winnipeg Sports Director Kelly Moore. The panel was made up of the following panelists:

• Cassidy Nicholls, former U-Sport Field Hockey player currently suffering from post-concussion symptoms.
• Stacy Hawash, President of the Manitoba Association of Basketball Officials, the Urban Representative on the Manitoba High School Athletic Association Board of Directors and Physical Education teacher at Vincent Massey Collegiate.
• Jeff Billeck, Athletic Therapist and Head Athletic Therapist for the Wesmen Athletics program and instructor within the Department of Kinesiology and Applied Health at The University of Winnipeg.
• Jon Rempel, University of Manitoba Bisons Women’s Hockey Head Coach.

“This evening was an important piece of a larger plan of how we are working to help Manitobans get access to concussions education to ultimately increase the awareness in our communities,” said Sport Manitoba President & CEO, Jeff Hnatiuk. “It’s about making resources and tools readily available to athletes, coaches, parents, educators, doctors, students, and other sport organizations.”

A question and answer period followed the program, where guests were encouraged to seek more information and share their thoughts.

“One in four concussion sufferers do not get assessed or treated by a health care provider,” said Dr. Gordon Partridge, President of SMSCM. “Concussion management is a complicated process that includes health care providers, patients and their family, sport, government and the education of the general public. When we all work together, we will help reduce the impact of concussion.”

Sport Manitoba is also undertaking and assisting in the following concussions initiatives:

Ongoing social media campaign
Each month, a 30-60 second video clip of an informative concussions message is shared via Sport Manitoba’s Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube channel, and is also included monthly in an edition of Sport Manitoba eNews.

Poster program
The SMSCM has distributed 400 We are Headstrong posters to Manitoba high schools and junior high schools as a tool for awareness amongst youth.

Baseline Testing
Manitoba was the first province to bring forward a statement on Baseline Testing and was followed shortly thereafter by Parachute Canada.

Concussion Working Group
Sport Manitoba is part of a Concussion Working Group that continues to promote and develop education tools and opportunities to ensure Manitobans engaged in sport have all tools and resources to prevent and manage concussions.

Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) support 
Sport Manitoba is committed to continuing to work with PSOs on their concussions protocol and encourage them to share concussion resources and tools.

About

Sport Manitoba is a not-for-profit organization and the lead planning, programming and funding agency for the development of amateur sport in Manitoba. Located at 145 Pacific Avenue in Winnipeg, Sport Manitoba partners with over 100 organizations to deliver sport in the province and is responsible for programs including the Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro, Sport Manitoba Coaching, Team Manitoba, Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame, Fit Kids Healthy Kids, and KidSport. Services provided include the Sport Manitoba Clinic, Sport Manitoba Performance, Sport Manitoba Fitness Centre, and the Paul Robson Resource Centre for Leadership and Coaching.

For more information please contact:
Janet McMahon
Director of Sport
Sport Manitoba
Office: 204-926-8350
janet.mcmahon@sportmanitoba.ca

or

Sam Cortes
Communications Coordinator
Sport Manitoba
Office: 204-925-5614
Cell: 204-290-7630
sam.cortes@sportmanitoba.ca