Father of Rowan Stringer talks concussions at Wilfrid Laurier University
Posted Mar 24, 2017 12:26:32 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The father of an Ottawa teen who died during a high school rugby game will be in Waterloo this weekend to give a talk about concussion.
Gord Stringer’s daughter Rowan Stringer passed away in 2013. Her name has become synonymous with concussion protocol.
A bill called Rowan’s Law was passed in 2016 setting clear guidelines for concussion protocol in youth sports in Ontario.
Gordon Stringer has taken on an advocacy role hoping that no parent has to go through what his family endured.
Stringer says his priority is getting to make concussion education mandatory, “We want the health curriculum in schools so that brain health and concussion awareness is part of the curriculum.”
Stringer adds, “Right now it’s an optional topic that you might possibly talk about in a health or phys-ed class.”
Stringer will be speaking at the 4th Annual Concussion Symposium at Wilfrid Laurier University.
The event is hosted by the university’s kinesiology department along with Team Up Laurier a group dedicated to concussion awareness and education.
Mike Cinelli is an event organizer and Associate Professor in Wilfrid Laurier’s Kinesiology & Phys. Ed. department.
Cinelli says the event is attracting more parents each year, “Parents are trying to educate themselves because they are their child’s first line of medical care, and if they can educate themselves on what to do and who to see, they can arm themselves with this knowledge.” Said Cinelli.
The symposium is taking place Saturday March 25th from 10 a.m. to 12; 30 p.m. at the Senate Board Chamber.
The event is open for all to attend.
