In March of 2018, the Ontario government passed a law known as Rowan’s Law. Designed to protect amateur athletes, including students, and to educate parents/guardians, coaches, teachers, and officials about the dangers of concussions, it is the first law of its kind in Canada and will benefit both athletes and non-athletes.

Rowan's Law is also about education. By increasing concussion awareness and knowledge, we can change Ontario's culture around sports, physical activity, and injury. Rowan's Law will make it easier for those who experience concussions to speak up, get the help they need, and take the time necessary for recovery, with the support of everyone around them.

Rowan’s Law requires Bluewater District School Board to confirm that the following individuals have reviewed (annually) the applicable Concussion Awareness Resource AND the applicable Concussion Code of Conduct before they can participate in any BWDSB interschool sport:

Parents/Guardians (to review with their (minor) student athlete)
Student athletes over 18 years of age
Coaches
Trainers
Officials

The documents that must be reviewed are accessible online (below through the appropriate link).  If you require an alternate format, please contact your school office.

PARENTS/GUARDIANS

Parents/guardians of students under 18 years of age who are participating in board-sponsored interschool sports must review the applicable items from each of the two required sections (Concussion Awareness Resource and Code of Conduct) with your student athlete.  Prior to participating in any BWDSB interschool sport, you will be asked to confirm this review on administrative form AF 5605 “Interschool Athletic Participation - Elementary/Secondary” (which will be sent home from the school).

Section 1: Concussion Awareness Resource (please select the applicable resource)

Is your child 10 and under?  Use Rowan’s Law Concussion Awareness Resource for ages 10 and under
Is your child 11 to 14?  Use Rowan’s Law Concussion Awareness Resource for ages 11 to 14
Is your child 15 and up?  Use Rowan’s Law Concussion Awareness Resource for ages 15 and up

Section 2: Student Athlete Code of Conduct (also available as Appendix I of AP 6814-D)

Student Athlete Concussion Code of Conduct

STUDENT ATHLETES OVER 18 YEARS OF AGE

Student athletes over 18 years of age who are participating in board-sponsored interschool sports must review the applicable item from each of the two required sections (Concussion Awareness Resource and Code of Conduct). Prior to participating in any BWDSB interschool sport, you will be asked to confirm this review on administrative form AF 5605 “Interschool Athletic Participation - Elementary/Secondary” (which will be sent home from the school).

Section 1: Concussion Awareness Resource

Rowan’s Law Concussion Awareness Resource for ages 15 and up

Section 2: Student Athlete Code of Conduct (also available as Appendix I of AP 6814-D)

Student Athlete Concussion Code of Conduct

COACHES / TRAINERS / OFFICIALS

Coaches / Trainers / Officials that will be participating in board-sponsored interschool sports must review the applicable item from each of the two required sections (Concussion Awareness Resource and Code of Conduct).

Please complete AF 6818 “Rowan’s Law Concussion Awareness Resource and Concussion Code of Conduct - Acknowledgement of Review” (available through SharePoint) each school year and submit to your principal / supervisor.

Section 1: Concussion Awareness Resource

Rowan’s Law Concussion Awareness Resource for ages 15 and up

Section 2: Coach / Trainer / Official Code of Conduct (also available as Appendix H of AP 6814-D)

Coach / Trainer / Official Concussion Code of Conduct


Bluewater District School Board’s school community can access additional information regarding Rowan’s Law and general concussion awareness through the following links:

Bluewater District School Board Administrative Procedure AP 6814-D “Concussion Prevention and Management”
http://www.bwdsb.on.ca/director/Procedures/AP_6814-D.pdf

Videos and Articles

• • Dr. Mike Evans: Concussion 101 (5:51)

  • CBC: Rowan Stringer ignored concussion symptoms days before death  (2:02)

  • CBC News: Gordon Stringer is an advocate for brain injury awareness who has worked tirelessly to enact legislation and educate the public about concussions (2:25)

  • Rowan's Law (2:37)

General Concussion Information Pages:

Government of Ontario:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/rowans-law-concussion-awareness-resources

Parachute:
https://parachute.ca/en/injury-topic/concussion/

OPHEA’s - Rowan’s Law Day Toolkit for Schools:
Rowan’s Law Day Toolkit for Schools | Ophea.net

Concussion Awareness Training:
Concussion Prevention, Identification, and Management for Schools e-Learning Module | Ophea.net

About Rowan Stringer:

Rowan Stringer loved rugby. A competitive and keen athlete, she was captain of her high school’s team. Tragically, in May 2013, 17-year-old Rowan died as the result of multiple head injuries she sustained while playing rugby. In the week before her last game, Rowan was hit twice while playing, likely sustaining a concussion after each blow. Her concussions went unreported, and she continued to play. Rowan suspected something wasn’t right—she texted a friend about her condition and used Google to search for information about concussions. When she was hit again in her final game, Rowan suffered what is known as Second Impact Syndrome—catastrophic swelling caused by a second injury to a brain still healing from previous trauma. Rowan collapsed on the field on May 8, 2013 and died four days later.
(source: About Rowan Stringer | Ophea.net)