SMARTRISK is calling on its supporters to help us reach the finals of the Aviva Community Fund competition. Ours was one of the 62 semi-finalist ideas that made it through one of three initial rounds of voting. A final round of voting takes place Dec. 2-16, after which the 25 ideas with the most votes proceed to the judging round. Visit http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf1059 to vote every day from Dec. 2-16.

Just in time for your holiday shopping needs, the 2010 Kenzie Car Calendar is now available to order. Mr. Kenzie’s calendar features monthly photos of luxury cars he’s snapped in exotic locations, along with a smart risk tip. Canada’s foremost automotive journalist donates half the profits from calendar sales to SMARTRISK each year.

SMARTRISK offers sincere gratitude to all who voted in the Aviva Community Fund competition to bring No Regrets to 250 schools next year. Among the 900+ ideas submitted, SMARTRISK tallied more than 4,100 votes, moving us to the semi-finals. Please vote again in the Dec. 2-16 round to ensure SMARTRISK’s is among the 25 ideas moving to the final judging phase.

SMARTRISK has entered in the Aviva Community Fund competition an idea to train 250 new No Regrets schools in 2010. You can help us make it happen. The 25 ideas with the most votes will make it to the semi-finals and have a chance to share in the $500,000 fund.

SMARTRISK’s youth programs now have their own website, where students, teachers, parents, sponsors and anyone else interested in youth injury can find what they need online. No Regrets students can download activities and events to organize in their schools, parents can get advice on talking to teens about risk and interested visitors can find out about SMARTRISK’s philosophy.

SMARTRISK’s newly published The Economic Burden of Injury in Canada is featured in an article in The Globe and Mail today by André Picard. As Mr. Picard notes, “Injuries sustained in everyday activities, from bone-breaking falls to motor-vehicle crashes that rip families apart, cost the Canadian economy a staggering $19.8-billion a year.”

Injury costs Canadians $19.8 billion annually – more than $600 for each man, woman and child in the country, according to a new report released by SMARTRISK today, The Economic Burden of Injury in Canada. In fact, injury – from falls, traffic, drowning, suicide, violence and other means – remains the leading cause of death for Canadians aged one to 44, taking the lives of 13,667 people in 2004.

SMARTRISK is pleased to announce that Edward (Ned) Levitt is the new Chairman of our Board of Directors. Mr. Levitt brings to the Board an accomplished career as one of Canada’s leading franchise lawyers. He is also a widely published author and sought after speaker. In addition, Mr. Levitt brings to SMARTRISK his experience as a parent tragically affected by injury.

Register now for the 15th Annual SMARTRISK Golf Tournament, to be held Tuesday, June 23, 2009, at the Glencairn Golf Club, one of the most picturesque courses in the ClubLink family, designed by renowned golf course architect Thomas McBroom. SMARTRISK is pleased to welcome Rogers Communications Inc. as our title sponsor this year.

The winter 2009 issue of the SMARTRISK No Regrets newsletter is out. Features include: highlights of training sessions that stretched from Yukon through Ontario and Nova Scotia; a new activity idea based on turning lemons into cherries; details on the annual Videofest; and a feature on reducing the risk of injury during running.