When the summer heat arrives, the Wesbrook Community Centre splash pad offers the chance to cool off using its fun water features.
The relief from high temperatures is nice, but splashes of water aren’t enough to offer protection from the sun’s rays. Thanks to a recent addition to the splash pad, residents can now enjoy the sun while being protected under a new shade structure.
On August 6, UNA board members and staff, along with two representatives from the Canadian Dermatology Association (CDA) Sun Awareness Working Group inaugurated the structure with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony.
UNA Board Chair Eagle Glassheim, who was involved in the development and logistics of the structure, began the ceremony with a speech expressing gratitude for the CDA’s financial support for the project.
Dr. Sunil Kalia, chair of the CDA’s Sun Awareness Working Group, continued the ceremony by discussing the importance of shade structures. According to Dr. Kalia, skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in Canada with one in five British Columbians at risk for developing it during their lifetime. “It’s something we do prioritize”, he said. “We do want people to still be outside, but we also try to minimize that risky amount of sun exposure. Prevention is very important”.
Many people slather on some sunscreen before going outside and call it a day, but Dr. Tashmeeta Ahad, a member of the Sun Awareness Working Group committee, urges additional prevention. “It’s not foolproof,” she said. “Shade is a better way of protecting yourself from the damage that can occur from sun exposure”.
In addition to seeking shade, she recommends wearing a wide-brimmed hat, avoiding the sun during peak hours, wearing long sleeves and pants, and avoiding the sun when the UV index is higher than 3.
The shading structure, installed in spring, was awarded a $7,500 grant for its construction by the CDA through its Shade Structure Grant Program.
The program was “quite competitive” according to Dr. Kalia, selecting only six recipients out of 600 applications from across Canada. The UNA was one of two shade structures selected from all of British Columbia.
With such a competitive process, what made the UNA stand out? “I think the design of the structure and the number of people it will impact”, said Dr. Ahad.
The structure contains three shade cloths supported by seven poles, covering a grassy area near the splash pad.
Wegland Sit, UNA Operations Manager, expanded on the structure’s versatility. “It’s a seasonal deployment”, he said, adding that the shade cloths will be installed in the springtime and taken down in the fall.
Another leading reason for receiving this year’s grant is the age group it targets. Dr. Kalia emphasised the importance of targeting youth, stating that “50 per cent of sun exposure that someone gets during their lifetime is during the youth and adolescence years”.
As a large percentage of youth reside on campus, the splash pad’s shade structure has already become a necessity for the summer, especially benefitting students and youth attending UNA summer camps.
AIZA MUBASHIR IS A GRADE 11 STUDENT AT UNIVERSITY HILL SECONDARY SCHOOL.