Bringing Play Back Into Recess

Saskatchewan Blue Cross Recess Guardians is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing play back into recess and helping youth build leadership abilities.

The program started in 11 Saskatoon community schools in the 2008/2009 school year. We came on board as a sponsor in 2011. In 2012 we became the title sponsor and helped expand the program to over 110 schools across the province.

Mike McDonald, the founder of Saskatchewan Blue Cross Recess Guardians, created the program when he saw through an internship at a Saskatoon community school that recess was not what it once was. It appeared as though many of the students had simply forgotten how to play at recess. He developed a simple program to make recess more fun and active by empowering youth to take the lead in teaching and organizing games.

Mike McDonald has been selected as the Red Cross 2016 Young Humanitarian of the Year for his dedication to helping young people get active and stay healthy. We would like to congratulate Mike on this great achievement! Thanks, Mike, for all you do for Saskatchewan youth.