Join us on Wednesday, September 16 2026 from 10:30 AM to 12:00 AM PT for:
Rethinking Risk: Making Space for Outdoor Play in Canada
Mariana Brussoni, PhD, UBC
Aron Bookman, Partner, Carfra Lawton LLP
Join Mariana and Aron as they provide a multidisciplinary session regarding the importance of facilitating and encouraging outdoor and what is now referred to as "risky" play in Canada. Local governments are essential to providing access in the form of parks and programs. The impact of regulation and litigation has been seen as having a chilling effect on what is made available to children and the day to day decision making of persons who are supervising children while playing. Mariana will share her research on the developmental importance of outdoor and risky play, bust common myths, and provide practical strategies for change. Aron will focus on the implications of the "duty of care" and how a claim for damages can result from injuries due to access to play spaces and during programs provided by local governments. Aron will include an explanation of the case law which has evolved to instruct local governments and front line staff of what they ought to consider.
After this session, attendees will be able to:
- Explain why providing access to and facilitating outdoor and risky play is essential
- Describe why the risk of injury in outdoor and risky play is quite low.
- Identify helpful guidance provided by the courts regarding outdoor and risky play.
All MIABC webinars are free for staff and elected officials of BC local governments, and open to anyone interested in community event safety. Please feel free to forward this invitation to others in your organization or community.
After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email with details on how to join the webinar.
Can’t make it live? Register anyway! Each webinar is recorded and posted with slides in the MIABC’s Webinar Library within 48 hours. You’ll get an email notification when it’s available for viewing.