SSAWC Project

Implemented between 2014 and September 2016, Sun Safety at Work Canada (SSAWC) was the first Canada-wide project to address sun safety for outdoor workers. The project initially enrolled 17 workplaces in Ontario, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, and New Brunswick with over 1000 workers participating. The workplaces developed multi-year action plans for sun safety and the project assisted the workplaces in implementing these plans over one year. Through engaging with the workplaces, the project developed a Model Sun Safety Program designed to be integrated into a workplace’s existing Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS). The Model Sun Safety Program is described on the Sun Safety Programs page of this website. To support this Program, the project also developed nearly 100 Canadian-focused sun safety resources which are freely available from the Resource Library page of this website. 

Project Team:

  • Dr. Thomas Tenkate, Project Lead, Toronto Metropolitan University (formally Ryerson University)
  • Chantal Courchesne, Canadian Dermatology Association
  • Kelly Cull, Canadian Cancer Society Nova Scotia
  • Danica Finch, Canadian Cancer Society Nova Scotia
  • Dr. Peter Green, Sun Safe Nova Scotia Coalition
  • Dr. D. Linn Holness, Centre for Research Expertise in Occupational Disease
  • Dr. Desre Kramer, Occupational Cancer Research Centre at Cancer Care Ontario
  • Brenda Marsh, Occupational Health Nurses Association of Nova Scotia
  • Colin Murray, WorkSafeBC
  • Alison Palmer, CAREX Canada
  • Dr. Cheryl Peters, CAREX Canada
  • Judy Purcell, Sun Safe Nova Scotia Coalition
  • Steven Quantz, Alberta Health Services
  • Dr. Peter Strahlendorf, Ryerson University

Project Staff:

  • Tracy Burgess, Nova Scotia Sun Safety Advisor (2015-2016)
  • Leah Byrne, Nova Scotia Sun Safety Advisor (2015)
  • Christine Carthew, Public Health Student (2016)
  • Renzo Dalla Via, Senior Sun Safety Advisor (2016)
  • Lindsay Forsman-Phillips, British Columbia Sun Safety Advisor (2015-2016)
  • Audrey Gardner, Project Coordinator (2014-2016)
  • Emily Gross, Research Associate (2015-2016)
  • Julia Hayos, Ontario Sun Safety Advisor (2015-2016)
  • Sheila Kalenge, Research Associate (2015)
  • Rivka Kushner, Knowledge Broker (2014-2016)
  • Michael MacGillivary, Medical Student (2016)
  • Erin Maguire, Medical Student (2015)
  • Keith McMillan, Ontario Sun Safety Advisor (2015-2016)
  • Garthika Navaranjan, Research Associate (2016)
  • Brenda Santos, Project Coordinator (2016)

Advisory Committee

Workplaces

We extend our thanks to all the workplaces who participated in the project. The following workplaces who participated in the project chose to be listed on our website:

Partners

  • Ryerson University logo
  • Canadian Dermatology Association logo
  • Canadian Cancer Society logo
  • Centre for Research Excellence in Occupational Disease logo
  • Occupational Cancer Research Centre at Cancer Care Ontario logo
  • Occupational Health Nurses Association of Nova Scotia logo
  • CAREX Canada logo