TORONTO , Oct. 10, 2006 – FedEx Express Canada , a unit of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), and Safe Kids Canada announced today the winners of “Making It Happen” – Pedestrian Safety Grant Awards. The awards are part of their joint pedestrian safety program aimed at reducing pedestrian injuries to Canadian children by increasing motorist awareness, providing long-term support to communities, making communities more ‘walkable’ and teaching safety tips to children.
Every week in Canada , at least 80 child pedestrians are involved in collisions with motor vehicles. At least one of them will die and 10 will have serious injuries. These deaths and injuries are preventable.
Safe Kids Canada and FedEx received more than 70 applications from communities across Canada . Winners were selected based on the identified need in their community, their experience with pedestrian programs and the ability to measure the effectiveness of their programs. Winners will use the grants to further develop and implement strategies that improve child pedestrian safety in their communities.
The following organizations have each received a pedestrian grant for their community:
* Havenwood Early Years Hub in Mississauga , Ontario to assess parents’ awareness of pedestrian safety in a multicultural community.
* Sudbury and District Health Unit ( Ontario ) to support educational initiative for pedestrian charter.
* Trauma Program, Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation in St. John , New Brunswick to provide classroom education and media awareness on pedestrian safety.
* County-City Health Unit in Peterborough , Ontario to develop a back-to-school media campaign.
* Saskatchewan Prevention Institute to promote the walking school bus program across Saskatchewan .
* Vancouver Coastal Health in Whistler, British Columbia to set up a crossing guard program and speed indicators in school zone.
* Sherridon Nursing Station in Manitoba to provide pedestrian safety workshops and post speed and school signs.
* Haliburton: A Community in Action Committee in Ontario to promote and advocate for pedestrian safety routes.
* Société de Bien-Être Centre-Est in St. Paul , Alberta to help students advocate for pedestrian safety at their school.
* École La Croisée in Rivière-du-loup, Québec to support their active transportation program in the school.
“As the world’s largest express transportation company, we place a high value on safety, both in the workplace and in the communities in which we operate,” said Pina Starnino, vice president of operations at FedEx. “Our employees drive and walk in thousands of communities every day, so safety is a vital element in our work. FedEx is particularly concerned about pedestrian safety and is taking a proactive stance in heightening public awareness of this important issue.”
“With the support of partners like FedEx, Safe Kids Canada is working to keep kids safe where they live, learn and play,” said Allyson Hewitt, executive director, Safe Kids Canada.
About Safe Kids Canada
Safe Kids Canada is a national injury prevention program of Toronto ’s Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). The mission of Safe Kids Canada is to prevent injuries by educating the public about injury prevention and by working to create safer environments. Injuries are the leading cause of death for children in Canada . For more information contact Safe Kids Canada at 1-888-SAFE-TIPS (723-3847) or www.safekidscanada.ca.
About FedEx Express Canada
Federal Express Canada Ltd. is a global logistics and transportation company offering domestic and international shipping and electronic commerce solutions. The company uses advanced package status tracking systems, automated customs clearance services and a dedicated air and ground transportation network to serve Canadian and global markets. FedEx employs approximately 5,000 people in over 60 facilities coast-to-coast. For more information, visit www.fedex.ca