Rowan Stringer’s legacy will be used to help shape plans for Ontario youth to safely return to playing organized sports once the pandemic is over, says the minister who helped create groundbreaking concussion legislation in the Ottawa teen’s honour.

In advance of marking Rowan’s Law day on Wednesday, Sport and Culture Minister Lisa MacLeod told the Star that the lessons learned in creating brain injury awareness and return-to-play rules for youth injured in sports will now be applied to life after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are looking at the best ways … for a post-COVID-19 return-to-play safely,” with the Rowan’s Law and amateur sports committees working together, said MacLeod.

“We really have to start looking at life in sports as a way to continue to keep children active — but we know that there’s going to be a lot of apprehension from parents to get their children into their old routines and behaviours simply because of the pandemic.”

Rowan Stringer was 17 when she passed away from catastrophic brain swelling after suffering a number of concussions while playing rugby. Following an inquest, MacLeod — with the help of Rowan’s parents Gordon and Kathleen, as well as New Democrat MPP Catherine Fife and Liberal MPP John Fraser — brought forward legislation that passed in 2018.

It was followed by a powerful “Hit. Stop. Sit” ad campaign that aired during last year’s NBA Finals.

In the legislature Tuesday, Progressive Conservative MPP Stan Cho said “Rowan’s Law ensures that Ontario’s athletes are protected and treated as soon as there is a suspicion of a concussion, a measure that will undoubtedly save lives … it is the country’s first and only concussion legislation.”

MacLeod noted that because of the province’s leadership on the issue, in October, “Ontario will lead a national discussion at the next federal-provincial-territorial meeting of sports ministers, and we’ll continue to have that conversation.”

She said the Rowan’s Law working group will also start discussions about concussions and how they impact mental health.

“Obviously without full contact sport or any contact sport now, it takes on a different meaning,” MacLeod said. “I had the opportunity to talk to (Rowan’s parents) last Friday and thought this would be an opportunity for us to really take Rowan’s Law and, really, Rowan’s legacy to a new level with concussion and brain injury awareness, but also with mental health and physical health and safety.”

A coroner’s inquest into Rowan’s death found that it could have been prevented. Her parents have urged all other provinces to follow Ontario’s lead.

She died in 2013 of “second impact syndrome,” and the 2018 law in her name — which began as a private member’s bill proposed by MacLeod — ensures athletes, their families and coaches are trained in concussion awareness, that sports organizations implement concussion policies including removal and return to play.