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Announcement part of National Day of Action call for federal government to invest in social determinants and implement a national ban on handguns Toronto, October 20, 2020 – Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns (CDPG) announced a new scholarship for a young person affected by gun violence as part of its National Day of Action today. The 4-year scholarship provides $2,000 per year plus access to mentorship from some of the physicians, academics, and advocates with CDPG. The scholarship will be provided to a student of planning to attend a Canadian post-secondary institution in the fall of 2021. “Offering opportunities for youth is a necessity to building a safe and just society,” said Dr. Najma Ahmed, trauma surgeon and co-founder, CDPG. We are proud to be presenting this scholarship, as well as a renewed advocacy push for governments to address social determinants that put young people at greater risk of gun violence. The scholarship recipient may be someone who has been a victim of gun injury, or has had a family member injured or killed, or had a person close to them who was one of the many hundreds of Canadians who die by gun suicide each year. Details on the application process will be announced soon.
Concerned about the epidemic of gun violence in Canada and the added risks created by the COVID-19 pandemic, CDPG is holding its 2nd National Day of Action today. The centerpiece of the virtual event is a one-hour video featuring the latest Canadian and international research on gun violence prevention, powerful stories from survivors and families of victims along with health workers on the frontlines treating the injured, and inspiring calls to implement detailed policy proposals. “There is clear medical research linking the presence of guns to heightened threats of femicide, suicide, and other forms of violence,” said Dr. Julie Maggi, psychiatrist and co-Chair, CDPG. “Conversely, measures to restrict access to guns can save lives. Yet gun restrictions must be one part of a comprehensive, preventative public health approach based on evidence. The federal government needs to move forward with a handgun ban that is national, implement a meaningful red flag law, and invest in social determinants such as poverty reduction and anti-racism measures.” More details on the video and where to watch is available on our website at www.doctorsforprotectionfromguns.ca. -30- For more information or to arrange an interview please contact: Christopher Holcroft Empower Consulting, for Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns 416-996-0767/ [email protected] Comments are closed.
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