NORTH BAY, ON, Feb. 1, 2005 – Most injuries suffered by Canadians are preventable, and Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) wants to reinforce this message through its month-long sponsorship of Injury Prevention Month in North Bay. IBC will spend most of February helping the residents of North Bay learn how they can prevent injuries at home, at work, on the road and at play.
Unintentional injuries are a serious public health concern in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, unintentional injuries cost Canadians about $8.7 billion per year. These injuries have one thing in common: they are preventable.
“This campaign is designed to communicate important safety messages to people of all ages and to bring practical support for all the good work already undertaken in this community,” says Mary Lou O’Reilly, Vice-President, Public Affairs and Marketing at IBC. “We’re delighted to bring this initiative to North Bay as IBC continues in its efforts to help people be safe, regardless of the activity.”
North Bay was selected as the location of the IBC-sponsored Injury Prevention Month because of the great strides that Mayor Victor Fedeli and groups such as the North Bay Fire Department, and Partners in Trauma Prevention have taken in promoting safety throughout the community.
“We are very pleased to be chosen as the site of IBC’s Injury Prevention Month,” says Mayor Fedeli. “Although our city has an excellent record as a caring and safety-conscious community, it is my hope that the activities taking place during Injury Prevention Month will further encourage North Bay residents to be aware of potential hazards that are present in everyday life.”
During the news conference to launch the initiative, Mayor Fedeli officially proclaimed February to be Injury Prevention Month, as Elmer the Safety Elephant, community safety experts, IBC representatives and city officials looked on.
“IBC has a long history of working with governments and safety organizations to make our communities safer for everyone,” says Mark Yakabuski, Vice-President, Federal Affairs & Ontario, IBC. “From seatbelt legislation, to anti-drinking and driving campaigns, to graduated licensing, IBC has always worked to promote injury prevention in our communities.”
“Our goal is to make Canadians of all ages safer,” says Ms. O’Reilly. “We hope that Injury Prevention Month in North Bay will help ensure that safety becomes second nature for all residents and encourages them to be smart…be safe.”
Insurance Bureau of Canada is the national trade association of the private property and casualty insurance industry. It represents the companies that provide more than 90% of the private home, car and business insurance in Canada. To view news releases and information, visit the media section of IBC’s website at www.ibc.ca.
