Anderson named to national board of ‘Safe Communities’

Doug Anderson of Fort Frances, chairman of the Rainy River Valley Safety Coalition, has been elected to the Canadian Safe Communities Foundation’s board of directors.
“I think the board of directors wanted input from the communities that have been ‘safe communities’ for several years,” Anderson said Tuesday, referring to his new position.
And the demand for this information is growing more urgent all the time, he added.
“By 2005, the number of ‘safe communities’ in Canada will grow to 500. Right now, there’s 36,” said Anderson. “All the provinces have something in the pipeline.
“Eventually, we’ll be entrenched across Canada.”
The Safe Communities Found-ation will co-host its fifth National Safe Communities Conference here next May as part of the World Health Organization’s conference.
“Our conference will showcase our ideas and those of other ‘safe communities.’ And it will help us understand the direction the Foundation’s taking,” noted And-erson.
Meanwhile, Anderson and the local conference committees have been keeping busy preparing for the event, sending out pamphlets to countries as far away as New Zealand.
“But we’re searching for volunteers to work in all areas. It’s a chance for people to work with others from across Canada,” added Anderson.
A good chance to get involved is at an open house slated Oct. 16 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the WHO office at 414 Scott St. (beside Lee Garden).
Anderson noted this also will be when district businesses involved in the Safe Communities Incentive Program (SCIP) will get their portions of this year’s rebate–a total of $208,000.
The Foundation is a national, not-for-profit organization that promotes a goal of zero tolerance for injuries at work, home, and play. It is an affiliate support centre of the WHO’s Safe Community Network.
The SCF works in partnership with the private and public sectors to improve the health and safety of workers and people of all ages throughout the community.
The goal of the Foundation, and all designated “safe communities,” is to eliminate injuries while promoting a culture of safety across the country.