Sun Safe BC

Sun Safe BC is a provincial coalition coordinated by BC Cancer. We focus on keeping people safe from the harmful effects of the sun.

Our coalition brings together partners from health authorities, academia, non-profits, and foundations, all committed to advancing sun protection efforts. Together we advocate for government policy change and share sun safety messages with the public.

Priorities

Sun Safe BC focuses on four key areas to help reduce UV exposure and promote sun safety:

Changing attitudes and behaviours – Helping people understand the risks of UV exposure and encouraging everyday sun protection habits.
Supporting educators and service providers – Ensuring those who work with priority populations, such as children and outdoor workers, have the knowledge and tools to promote sun safety.
Creating sun-safe environments – Encouraging the design of outdoor shade and UV protection in outdoor spaces, including playgrounds, parks, and public areas.
Advocating for stronger policies – Working at the provincial level to support policies that make sun safety a priority in urban planning, workplace safety, and public health initiatives.

Key initiatives

Over the years, Sun Safe BC has supported a variety of initiatives to help reduce UV exposure in BC, including:

Developing resources for early childcare centres to integrate sun safety into daily practices.
Supporting shade-friendly urban design and planning strategies.
Providing educational materials to raise awareness about UV exposure risks.
Partnering with community groups to expand sun protection efforts across the province.

Sample Projects

Cool playgrounds

BC Cancer and Sun Safe BC led several shade pilot projects to explore how shade can prevent skin cancer and provide a comfortable temperature for outdoor play. These projects partnered with various organizations and municipalities to implement different shade solutions in childcare centres in BC.

Partners included the City of Vancouver, UBC’s Play Outside Lab, UBC’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Emily Carr University, YMCA Childcare Centres, Vancouver Society of Children’s Centres and Indigenous early learning.

These solutions included natural shade (e.g. plants, trees, shrubs), temporary shade (e.g. shade netting, umbrellas), and built shade (e.g. shade sails, pergolas). To date, these shade projects have led to outdoor sun safe modifications in over 20 early childcare education centres, positively impacting over 600 children and Early Educators per year.

Sun Safe training & professional development

Sun Safe BC provided workshops for Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) that counted towards professional development requirements. ECEs play an important role in protecting children from the sun’s rays. The course covered information about skin cancer prevention, ultraviolet radiation, and practical sun safety strategies to incorporate into daily routines at childcare centres.

Sunscreen dispensers

Led by partner Save Your Skin Foundation, the coalition supports the installation of sunscreen dispensers at select park and public locations in BC. Since 2022, more than 20 sunscreen dispensers have been installed in various sites, including New Westminster, Kelowna, Richmond, Penticton, and Lake Cowichan.

Shade working group

The shade working group brought together health authority partners from across BC to review the latest evidence and best practice for shade policy and regulations. The group worked with municipalities to move evidence-based shade policy/strategies forward, understanding that this varies by region. A key focus was ensuring equitable access to shade.

Resources

Want to know more? Email promotions@bccancer.bc.ca.

Provincial Health Services Authority

Preventing Cancer