Ambassadors from the Canadian Cancer Society will be at Gordon Beggs Rotary Beach in Summerland this summer to promote sun safety and skin cancer prevention.
On Saturday, July 26, Sunday, Aug. 10 and Saturday, Aug. 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., representatives from the Canadian Cancer Society will be at the beach with information.
“Tanned skin is damaged skin,” said Amanda Harris, health promotion coordinator for the Canadian Cancer Society, Southern Interior Region.
“Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Canada.”
Each year, there are roughly 6,500 new cases of malignant melanoma in Canada. Of these, 970 are in British Columbia.
While tanning is seen as a protective measure by some, Harris said a tan does not provide protection. A tan has the equivalent of a sun protection rating of SPF 2 to 4. The recommendation for good sun protection is to use a sunscreen with a factor of at least SFP 15.
She added that those in the sun should seek shade and reduce the time they are in the sun between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Joanne Malar, program coordinator for the municipality’s recreation department, said attitudes have changed in recent years.
in the 1980s and 1990s, tanning was more popular and efforts were made to darken the colour of the skin.
“People are more wise now. The information is out there,” Malar said.