2026 Campaign: Speaker Series
Session 1 - June 18, 2026, 2:00 until 3:00 pm EST
Weighing the Options: Artificial vs. Natural Surfacing in Children’s Outdoor Learning and Play Settings
Event Details
Wondering whether artificial or natural playground surfacing materials are the best option for your school or child care program?
Mariana Brussoni
Dr. Mariana Brussoni is a Professor at the University of British Columbia’s Department of Pediatrics and School of Population and Public Health, Director of the Human Early Learning Partnership, and a scientist with British Columbia Children’s Hospital, where she leads the Outside Play Lab. Her research reimagines how outdoor and risky play can be integrated into everyday life to help children thrive. Further details available at https://www.outsideplay.org/
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Helen Doyle
Helen is a certified Public Health Inspector with over 40 years experience in environmental public health. As Manager of Healthy Environments with York Region Public Health until her retirement in 2018, she led initiatives related to climate change, extreme heat, air quality, and the built & natural environment. Helen is the Canadian Public Health Association and Ontario Public Health Association representative on the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment, supporting research, advocacy and awareness to promote healthy environments for children.
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Sara Vaezafshar
Sara Vaezafshar is a Postdoctoral Fellow at McMaster University, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, where she studies internal and external chemical exposures. She earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Chemistry from the University of Toronto, where her research focused on chemical exposures among vulnerable populations. Her doctoral work included detailed investigations of young children’s exposure to chemicals of concern such as phthalate plasticizers and organophosphate flame retardants in indoor and sleeping environments, contributing important insights into early‑life environmental health risks.
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Session Description
A growing body of research reveals that such decisions can have significant implications for children’s health, especially as climate change brings more frequent extreme heat, flooding, and wildfires. Join us for a virtual conversation about weighing the options for surfacing materials in outdoor educational settings. Speakers will discuss current surfacing trends, summarize the child health concerns associated with synthetic materials, including toxic chemicals, microplastics and heat retention, and discuss the health, ecological, accessibility, and sustainability considerations that can help guide decisions. This event will be in English, with live captions in English and French. Recordings of the event will be available on the HELD website following the session. Should you have any issues registering or questions about the session, reach out to Kieran Maingot, HELD Coordinator at kieran@healthyenvironmentforkids.ca.Session Speakers
Mariana Brussoni
Dr. Mariana Brussoni is a Professor at the University of British Columbia’s Department of Pediatrics and School of Population and Public Health, Director of the Human Early Learning Partnership, and a scientist with British Columbia Children’s Hospital, where she leads the Outside Play Lab. Her research reimagines how outdoor and risky play can be integrated into everyday life to help children thrive. Further details available at https://www.outsideplay.org/
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Helen Doyle
Helen is a certified Public Health Inspector with over 40 years experience in environmental public health. As Manager of Healthy Environments with York Region Public Health until her retirement in 2018, she led initiatives related to climate change, extreme heat, air quality, and the built & natural environment. Helen is the Canadian Public Health Association and Ontario Public Health Association representative on the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment, supporting research, advocacy and awareness to promote healthy environments for children.
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Sara Vaezafshar
Sara Vaezafshar is a Postdoctoral Fellow at McMaster University, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, where she studies internal and external chemical exposures. She earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Chemistry from the University of Toronto, where her research focused on chemical exposures among vulnerable populations. Her doctoral work included detailed investigations of young children’s exposure to chemicals of concern such as phthalate plasticizers and organophosphate flame retardants in indoor and sleeping environments, contributing important insights into early‑life environmental health risks.
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