To raise awareness and promote safe practices, Alberta’s government is partnering with the Sport Medicine Council of Alberta to recognize Sept. 24, 2025, as Alberta Concussion Awareness Day. Over the last three years, the Ministry of Tourism and Sport has invested $75,000 to develop educational resources and promote concussion awareness across the province.
Whether you're participating in organized sport, recreational activities, or enjoying active play, concussions can happen to anyone – regardless of age, skill level or experience. According to the Injury Prevention Centre, 41 Albertans sustain a concussion every day, with the highest rates among young Albertans aged 10 to 24. Yet many go unnoticed or unreported.
“The best concussion is the one that doesn’t happen. Prevention begins with education, and awareness is our strongest tool. By working together to learn, share and promote safe practices, we can help protect Albertans from the long-term impacts of concussion.”
Alberta’s government has partnered with the Sport Medicine Council of Alberta (SMCA) to enhance outreach and support for communities, athletes and sport leaders. Concussion awareness, prevention, detection and management is a shared responsibility. Coaches, athletes, trainers, officials, physical education teachers, health care professionals and all Albertans play a vital role in recognizing and responding to concussions.
“Awareness is the first step to prevention. When Albertans recognize concussion signs and act quickly, we can reduce the impact and help them safely get back to the activities they love.”
Any impact to the head, face, neck or body can result in a concussion. In Alberta, a study by the Injury Prevention Centre found that falls are the leading cause, responsible for 35.8 per cent of concussions, followed by sports-related injuries at 22 per cent and motor vehicle accidents at nine per cent. By working together to build a culture of safety and awareness, we can help reduce the impact of concussions across our communities.
“Concussions are the most common traumatic brain injury and can happen anytime, anywhere, at any age. Nearly 15,000 are diagnosed in Alberta’s emergency departments each year. Alberta Concussion Awareness Day unites experts, organizations and communities to advance prevention, recognition and management provincewide.”
“Although concussions can’t be eliminated, we’re proud of our efforts at every level of football to address them. Through new coaching education, stricter practice and game guidelines and stronger focus on recognition, care and recovery, concussion incidents have greatly reduced. We remain committed to making concussion awareness and care a top priority in football.”
Understanding how concussions occur, recognizing the symptoms and knowing what steps to take are crucial. Resources and materials to support concussion management are available through the Injury Prevention Centre, Sport Medicine Council of Alberta, Alberta Sport, and MyHealth Alberta.