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Concussion laws passed in Ontario
to protect youth athletes
Rowan's Law aims to change "co cussion" culture and includes ecation, training,
codes conduct.
Rowan Stringer was 17 r r after suffering .. head while playing
rugby in 2013. An inquest r teen
r r ,.., been
r r g through multiple
concussions before her death. (FACEBOOK)
By KRISTIN RUSHOWY Queen's Park Bureau
Tues., March 6, 2o18
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3/7/2018 Concussion laws passed in Ontario to protect youth athletes I Toronto Star
III 11II�iii III �I III ill IN
injuries she suffered playing rugby — the bill mandates training for coaches, players and
their fames, a system to track injuries as well as a requirement that sports leagues and
school boards implement codes of conduct.
"We want parents who sign up their daughter or son for a sport in school or outside of
school to know that all steps are being taken to ensure the child's safety," said Tourism,
Culture and Sport Minister Daiene Vernile. "We want our kids to come home for dinner
after practice or after having played a game that day."
"These are critical steps to make certain that athletes are safe," Vernile said in an
interview.
The law — created and supported with the help of three MPPs, one from each party —
passed Tuesday with unanimous support as Rowan's parents Gordon and Kathleen
looked on in the Legislature. It now just needs royal assent.
Years in the making, the bill arose out of recommendations from an inquest after
Rowan's death in 2013, as well as the work of Rowan's Law Advisory Committee, in
which Gordon Stringer played a key role alongside former NHLer Eric Lindros.
A teary Gordon Stringer told reporters he hopes the legislation sparks changes beyond
the province.
"The heavy lifting has been one here in Ontario," he said. "This is something that needs
to be addressed across the country."
Progressive Conservative MPP Lisa MacLeod (Nepean-Carleton), who was instrumental
in bringing out the committee work and legislation, said parents will notice the
difference.
Since she's started this work "there's a great deal of awareness now when you are at the
hockey rink or the soccer field or at the rugby pitch, compared to where it was before.
"When you have athletes like Eric Lindros or even in my own community, Connor
Williams from the Redblacks, and they are out there talking about the effects of their
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3/7/2018 Concussion laws passed in Ontario to protect youth athletes I Toronto Star
own concussions, parents take it seriously."
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immediate removal from a game, the legislation does not address that.
Lindros, a committee member and former NHLer whose career was cut short by
concussions, said the law is a good first step, but the pressure will be on to implement all
of the advisory group's recommendations.
When he played hockey, the issue "wasn't spoken ofhe said, recalling he was sent to a
migraine specialist at one point in his career to deal with his symptoms, and was told he
actually had suffered head trauma.
New Democrat MPP Catherine Fife (Kitchener -Waterloo), who was part of what Stringer
called his "Queen's Park dreamalong with MacLeod and Liberal MPP John
Fraser (Ottawasaid the codes of conduct "should hold coaches and parents
accountable, but also shifting that culture around the recognition that playing with a
brIin injury is not worth it in the end.
"It won't happen overnight, but it will happen," said Fife, whose own son suffered a
concussion playing hockey.
When it comes to curbing dangerous its, she said as Lindros has noted, the "athleticism
of the game doesn't need to change, but the violence needs to change. And that's really
the only way."
MacLeod said that when she used to play ringette and hockey, "there was a lot moll
violence on the ice than there is today, and I think people are very cognisant of the
"I think as a result of that, we're starting to see that modified. I think there's going to be
anatural j2ro 1hat
"But ... we don't want to start off in a punitive position — we want to start off in an
awareness position."
A number of sports leagues and school boards already have codes of conduct and
concussion plans on the books. Now, they will be mandated to have such zero -tolerance
policies.
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3/7/2018 Concussion laws passed in Ontario to protect youth athletes I Toronto Star
"One of the other things that I like to remind people is you cannot put a cast on your
head and think that your concussion is going to go away," she said. "... I've had casts on
my hand. I have had knee braces. I have sprained my ankle multiple times playing
soccer, and I can put a wrap on it. I can still sort of walk around. I might need some
crutches but I'm going to
"Here is the
ey
thing with concussions: Thmight be mild, and in two weeks'time, you
may have no symptoms and you may be fine. You can have a concussion that is mild or
severe, and if you don't take care of yourself, there could be severe consequences" such
as Alzheimer's or, as in Rowan's case, death.
The new law also sets out a Rowan's Law r1 fall in honour of the teen.
In Canada, almost 40 per cent of youth who head to the hospital after a sports -related
head injury have a concussion, and a further 24 per cent possibly having suffered one.
"We owe this to Rowan Stringer," said Verna e. "We owe it to Rowan's parents, Gordon
and Kathleen, who over the past five years have been the strongest advocates for change
in the way that we seek to prevent concussions and in helping toeducate others on
concussion safety."
Vernile of the Star she had breakfast with the Stringers on Tuesday morning, and that
Gordon had been asking her "are we there yet?" after five years of hard work to make
change.
After the legislation passed, Vernile went over to where he and Kathleen were seated in
the Legislature and said, "Gord, we are there."
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