Shade Structure Grant Program

2024/2025 Grant Recipients Announced

We are pleased to announce the selected recipients for the 2024/2025 CDA Shade Structure Grant Program. The following organizations have been awarded grants of up to $7,500 each for the purchase or construction of permanent shade structures:

• University Neighbourhoods Association – Vancouver, British Columbia
  The University Neighbourhoods Association will construct a shade structure at a community splash pad that will cover approximately 1,500 square feet, providing essential relief from the sun for community members and outdoor programs. Comprising 6-7 permanent posts and three durable, high UV-rated shade sails, the structure will create a welcoming gathering space for outdoor activities, picnics, and longer camp sessions, enhancing community engagement and comfort.
• The City of Courtenay – Courtenay, British Columbia
  The City of Courtenay will install a 16’x24′ pavilion-type shade structure that will provide essential shade in Woodcote Park, reducing heat stress and enhancing safety for all users. This structure will also serve as a community gathering space, promoting a more enjoyable outdoor experience for families and parkgoers.
• Makoonsag Intergenerational Child Care Inc. – Winnipeg, Manitoba
  Makoonsag Intergenerational Child Care will install a 10’x12’x14′ cedar shade structure. This versatile space will host various events, including social gatherings, art activities, and seasonal solstice celebrations, benefiting not only the centres parents and children but the entire community as well.
• Personnel Support Programs – Borden, Ontario
  Personnel Support Programs (PSP), part of the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS), will build a shade structure with two durable 12x12x12 triangle shade sails anchored to five posts, covering a 24×24 sq ft area. This space will provide shade for children’s activities, nutrition breaks, adult gatherings, and programs like swimming and lifeguarding, with plans to also host outdoor fitness activities for all ages.
• St. Anthony Elementary School – Pierrefonds, Quebec
  The school will install a freestanding cantilever shade structure with a 12′ x 12′ pyramid canopy, providing a much-needed sheltered area for students in the schoolyard. This addition will offer relief from the sun, creating a comfortable seating space for students and a covered area for parents and community members during practices and events.
• Town of Kentville – Kentville, Nova Scotia
  The Town of Kentville will construct a 12’x12’x8′ shade structure at their community skatepark, providing essential protection from the sun. This addition will promote community engagement and encourage safer, longer use of the facility while reducing the risk of heat-related illnesses and UV exposure.

Congratulations to all recipients! We look forward to seeing these shade structures installed by April 1, 2025, contributing to safer, sun-protected outdoor spaces for communities across Canada.

Application Process Closed

We would like to inform all applicants that the application process for the Canadian Dermatology Association Shade Structure Grant Program is now closed. Thank you to all that submitted applications. We appreciate your commitment to creating safe outdoor environments that protect individuals from harmful ultraviolet radiation.

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Shade Structure Grant Program Information

The Canadian Dermatology Association Shade Structure Grant Program provides five grant(s) of up to $7,500 each for the purchase or construction of permanent shade structures to schools, daycares, city parks, and not-for-profit organizations. The goal is to create a safe outdoor environment that protects people from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Combined with sun-safe habits, such as wearing broad-spectrum sunscreen, sunglasses and protective clothing, providing shade is one of the most important ways of minimizing people’s sun exposure and reducing the risk of developing skin cancer later in life.

Eligibility & Requirements

To be considered, applicants must be a school, daycare, city park or not-for-profit organization.

Grant recipients are required to:

• Acknowledge the support of the CDA in all promotional materials associated with the shade structure. A recognition statement will be included in the approval letter, and is also available in the FAQ section below.
• Install outdoor signage provided by the CDA on or near the shade structure.
• Install shade structure and provided CDA signage by April 1, 2025, otherwise the recipient will forfeit the grant.
• Submit to the CDA two high-quality full-colour photographs of the installed shade structure and CDA signage without any individual by April 8, 2025. (These images may be used in future promotional materials for the program).

Shade Structure Criteria & Placement

Shade structures must have a solid roof made of metal, wood or shade cloth, and must provide significant protection from ultraviolet radiation. Structures must be permanent, which means stay up all year round. If using shade cloth, the fabric must be up for the majority of three seasons and may be removed during the winter.

If using fabric in the shade structure, documentation about the percentage of UVR that will be blocked by the fabric or the Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) must be provided. Fabric used in the shade structure should provide UPF of 30 or above.

If UPF value cannot be determined for the fabric you have selected, you will need to choose a fabric that does indicate UPF or select another material (wood or metal). This information should be included in your application when asked to outline what type of shade structure will be purchased or constructed.

Recipients are responsible for working directly with their shade structure vendor to select the size and type of structure that best fits the outdoor location.

Shade structures must be placed in outdoor locations that are not protected from the sun, such as:

• Playgrounds/Parks
• Sports Fields
• Outdoor Pavilions
• Benches/Seating Areas
• Eating Areas
• Swimming Pool/Splash Pads
• Other recreational areas

Examples of ineligible shade structures include: trellis gazebos and roofs, slat-roof structures, pergolas, shade trees and temporary structures such as patio/canopy umbrellas and tents.

Structures that are temporary and that do not provide complete overhead shade coverage are also not eligible.

Application Process

1. You must submit the application using CDA’s online application form at https://dermatology.ca/industry/industry-recognition-programs/spp/shade-structure-grant-program-application (available after May 2 2024).
2. Applications will be accepted up to 11:59 p.m. (ET) on June 28, 2024.
3. Mailed, faxed or emailed submissions will not be accepted.
4. All questions on the application form MUST be answered or it will be considered incomplete and therefore ineligible for a grant.
5. Submit only the information requested. Do not submit additional materials such as brochures, CDs or videos.
6. Refer to the Shade Structure Grant Program FAQ section below for assistance when completing your application.

Application Checklist

The following items must be submitted when applying for a shade structure grant:

• Completed Shade Structure Grant Program online application form:
  • Include a detailed description of your plan.
  • Upload two full-colour photographs of the area to be shaded.

PLEASE NOTE: If your organization is awarded a grant, you will be notified in September 2024. Your shade structure with provided CDA signage must be installed by April 1, 2025, otherwise you will forfeit your grant.

Selection Process

Each application will be reviewed by the CDA Sun Awareness Working Group comprised of Certified Dermatologists from across Canada.

Eligible submissions will be assessed against, but not limited to, the following criteria:

• Design and Plan
• Accessibility
• Value to Community

Applications submitted on behalf of an organization whose values and mission do not align with those of the CDA will not be considered.

Additional information about the program can be found in the FAQ section.

If you have other questions, please email shade@dermatology.ca.

Shade Structure Grant Program FAQs

2021 Shade Structure Grant Program recipients

1. Corpus Christi Fundraising Association – Edmonton, AB
   A 14×16 ft. custom designed shade structure as part of a large-scale playground construction project.
2. Ecole Powerview School – Powerview, MB
   A 28×40 ft. open air wooden post shade structure with a solid roof, built by the school’s Grade 11 and 12 construction classes, under the supervision of its classroom teacher and a local contractor.
3. Corporation of the Town of Carleton Place – Carleton Place, ON
   A 10×16 ft. shade structure beside a community play structure and BMX pump track/skateboard park area.
4. Ville de Delson – Delson, QC
   A 20×20 ft. shade structure to provide shade for members of the community gathering at Parc du Centenaire where many outdoor activities including exhibitions, public markets and themed festivals take place.
5. Ville de Beresford – Beresford, NB
   A 20×20 ft. permanent shade structure in a community park to provide shade near the park play structures making it possible for the community to sit sheltered from the sun.
6. Back Bay Elementary Home and School Association – Back Bay, NB
   A 10×14 ft. shade structure between their playground and ballfield to provide shade for students and other members of the community.