At the end of each year, reflecting on what’s happened the previous 12 months, I’m always struck by how grateful I am for the dedication and collaboration amongst my colleagues. Beyond the importance of the cause of preventable injuries, it is the reason I’ve stayed in this sector for almost 20 years.

From our spectacular team at Parachute to our Board members, funders, sponsors, partners and stakeholders who helped us throughout the year with financial donations, expertise and support, this collaborative spirit is pervasive. I believe it is the reason for the successes we enjoy as we continue on the path to an injury-free Canada…ensuring Canadians live long lives to the fullest.

I am proud of our accomplishments in 2016, especially with the challenges facing the charitable and non-profit sector. Together, we faced the challenge of tackling the #1 cause of death for Canadians aged 1-44 by focusing education, policy and programs on road safety, seniors’ falls and concussions. Together, we worked to raise awareness, and grow our collective impact and influence to Stop The Clock on preventable injuries.

Parachute released our first-ever mobile application this year. Minister Jane Philpott launched the Concussion Ed app along with students from Glebe Collegiate Institute in Ottawa. The app was an immediate hit with thousands of downloads in just a few weeks. Our website has more information download details.

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Safe Kids Week focused on the top injury issues that affect children At Home, At Play and On The Road. Across Canada, more than 130 partners, representing every province and territory, executed Parachute Safe Kids Week. Together, we raised awareness through more than 34 million traditional and social media impressions.

We continued an emphasis on road safety during National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW) in October. Communities hosted 252 events from coast to coast and garnered 87 government proclamations of support. During our national media launch, the campaign message #GetHomeSafe was trending on Twitter.

To raise awareness during NTDSW, Parachute produced Choices a 90 second film to launch a new media format. Produced in partnerships with OPC, Collective Agreement, TimePlay and The Voila Foundation, Choices ran in Cineplex locations across Canada throughout October earning 90,000 pledges to end distracted driving.

While we’ve accomplished a lot together, our work is not done as the impact of injury continues to be felt across this great country tragically one child dies every nine hours from preventable injuries. Continued focus on effective frameworks such as Vision Zero, changes to policies, and ongoing dissemination of life saving information require support in 2017.

On behalf of everyone at Parachute, we wish you and your family a happy and safe holiday season.

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