Students learn importance of safety at home, school and play
Calgary, Alberta – On March 12 and 13, more than 3,300 students will be taking a field trip downtown to learn about safety at home, school and play at The City of Calgary’s 11th Annual Safety Expo.
Students from Grades 4-7 will visit approximately 40 exhibitors, set up in the Municipal Building where they will get the chance to learn hands on about safety and injury prevention. Exhibitors represent a mix of City, community and corporate organizations with a role in public and personal safety, community stewardship and responsible citizenship.
“It’s a tremendous opportunity for our young people to understand the importance of safety and how vital it is to our quality of life,” says Councillor Diane Colley-Urquhart, Honourary Chair of the Safety Expo. “Over the past 10 years, about 25,000 Calgary students have attended Safety Expo. And each and every student leaves here having had the opportunity to learn something new about being safe and responsible.”
Through interactive displays, workshops and an education corner, students from public, Catholic, private, charter and home schools will be engaged and informed about making responsible decisions regarding their personal safety and their behaviour in the community.
“In order to attend, teachers apply on behalf of their classes and each year the response is overwhelming,” says Tracy Bertsch, Director of Animal & Bylaw Services. “This alone shows us the value these children are getting from this event and it would not be possible without the support of our partners in The City and the community.”
Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Councillor Diane Colley-Urquhart will kick off this year’s Safety Expo 2014 at the City Hall School on Wednesday, March 12. Other special guests will be Animal & Bylaw Services Director Tracy Bertsch, Calgary Fire Department accelerant-detection dog Honey and her handler Fire Investigator Brad McDonald, along with Calgary Police Service trauma dog Hawk with his handler Sergeant Brent Hutt.
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