From life-saving skin cancer screenings aboard the Mole Mobile to sunscreen stations at major sporting events to teaching kids sun safety at camp, Melanoma Canada made sun protection impossible to ignore.
This summer, while Canadians enjoyed long days outdoors, Melanoma Canada was hard at work protecting skin from harmful UV rays and spreading crucial skin cancer awareness. Our mission? To make sun safety part of every experience—whether you were cheering at the Formula 1 in Montréal, watching a match at the National Bank Open, or learning about sun protection at summer camp.
One of the biggest highlights was the Mole Mobile, presented by Neutrogena®. Our two fully equipped skin cancer screening units began their tour in Alberta and Ontario in May, then travelled to British Columbia, and will finish in Quebec this Fall. To date, they have provided 10,187 free skin cancer screenings by certified Canadian Dermatologists. Of those, 1,653 were identified as potential skin cancers. Along the way, we educated visitors on the ABCDEs of melanoma and the importance of regular skin checks, reinforcing that early detection saves lives.
But screenings weren’t the only way we made an impact. At the Formula 1 in Montréal, we installed a Burnwatch tower equipped with Burn Guards—the first lifeguards for your skin, trained to protect you from harmful UV radiation. Fans were able to cool off under our umbrella-shaded sun loungers, while our team supplied more than 400 tubes of Neutrogena® sunscreen trackside and encouraged everyone to become a certified Burn Guard themselves.
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Tennis fans at the National Bank Open enjoyed a special surprise thanks to our partnership with La Roche-Posay. Leading up to the tournament, we gave away two tickets, and during the event, a co-branded SPF vending machine dispensed over 500 bottles of sunscreen, keeping fans protected while they watched the matches.
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On top of that, Canadian influencers Kelly Johnston and Bill Coulter helped amplify our message, sharing practical tips on sun protection with their audiences. And through our ongoing partnership with Tilley, stylish sun safety came in the form of UPF hat giveaways.
We also strengthened our focus on protecting children and youth. Through our SUN AWARE Sun Safety Certification Course, 119 camps and recreational centres across Canada received training on best practices to keep kids safe outdoors.
One highlight came at Camp Robinhood, where a visit from SPF Sam turned sun safety into a fun, interactive learning experience for campers.
This year, we also launched our new Sun Guardians Grant Program, which received 129 applications and awarded 34 grants this summer.
Through the grant program, we distributed:
- 690 tubes of sunscreen
- 162 camp kits (including 4 tubes of sunscreen, a UV bracelet and stickers, a UPF hat, and sunglasses)
- 6 shade picnic tables
- 6 shade tents
- 1,297 UV Skinz swimsuits
The takeaway: From screenings and sunscreen to hats, shade, and hands-on education, Melanoma Canada delivered sun safety to people across Canada of all ages this summer. Thanks to our partners, donors, and supporters, thousands were better protected under the sun—and together, we’re building a future where fewer families are impacted by melanoma and skin cancer.
