Sun Safe BC is a provincial coalition run by BC Cancer. We focus on keeping people safe from the harmful effects of the sun.
Together we advocate for government policy change and share sun safety messages with the public. Coalition activities fall under four priority areas:
Members- Change peoples’ attitudes, knowledge and behaviour around sun safety
- Strengthen knowledge of priority populations’ service providers and educators
- Create environments that protect people from ultraviolet radiation exposure
- Advocate for sun safety policies at the provincial level
BC Centre for Disease Control
Vancouver Coastal Health
Vancouver Island Health
Northern Health
Fraser Health
University of British Columbia
Save Your Skin Foundation
CAREX Canada
Melanoma Canada
University of British Columbia
Canadian Dermatology Association
Canadian Cancer Society
Society for Children & Youth
Youth representative
Patient representative
BC Cancer – program sponsor
BC Centre for Disease Control
Vancouver Coastal Health
Vancouver Island Health
Northern Health
Fraser Health
Island Health
Interior Health
University of British Columbia
Save Your Skin Foundation
CAREX Canada
Melanoma Canada
University of British Columbia
Canadian Dermatology Association
Canadian Cancer Society
Society for Children & Youth
Patient partners
- Diverse membership – ensure coalition members bring diverse perspectives
- Equity-oriented – decisions on activities will be made based on equity considerations
- Evidence-based – decisions on activities will be driven by latest evidence and best practices
- Patient/public as partners – patient/public partners are included in all Sun Safe BC activities
- Planetary health focus – activities will consider climate impacts and overall planetary health
- Sustainable results – funding commitments and activities will consider and ensure long-term sustainability and lasting results
BC Cancer and Sun Safe BC are leading several shade pilot projects. The projects study how shade can prevent skin cancer and provide a comfortable temperature for outdoor play. Partnerships are in place to put a variety of shade solutions in outdoor play areas of childcare centres in BC. Partners include 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 include 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 BC offers workshops for Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) that count towards professional development requirements. ECEs play an important role in protecting children from the sun’s rays. The course covers important information about skin cancer and ultraviolet radiation. It includes sun protection methods plus easy and practical ways to build sun safety into daily routines at childcare centres. We are working to convert the course to an interactive, online platform. This will allow us to expand it to others working directly with children, such as BC parks and recreation staff.
Led by partner Save Your Skin Foundation, the coalition supports the installation of sunscreen dispensers at select park and public locations in BC. To date, sunscreen dispensers have been installed in New Westminster, Kelowna, Richmond, Burnaby, Penticton, and Cowichan Bay, BC so far.
The shade working group reviews the latest evidence and best practice for shade policy and regulations. The working group is made up of health authority partners across BC. We work with municipalities to move evidence-based shade policy/strategies forward, understanding that this varies by region. There is particular emphasis on ensuring equitable access to shade.
