In In 2008, Health Canada contracted Summerhill Impact to complete a stakeholder engagement program to investigate the availability and ease of access for the public to radon test devices in Canada and the viability of a public awareness campaign on radon.

Summerhill Impact’s stakeholder engagement strategy focused on US manufacturers and distributors of radon test devices, Canadian laboratories and Canadian home improvement retailers.

There is a clear need to raise public awareness around radon and its effect on human health. Radon is a radioactive gas that is colourless, odourless and tasteless. When released from the ground into the outdoor air, it gets diluted to low concentrations and is not a concern. However, in enclosed spaces, like basements, it can sometimes accumulate to high levels, which can pose a risk to human health. Radon exposure is largely preventable; however, the only way to determine whether a home has a high radon level is to test for it.

As an outcome of this work, Summerhill Impact made several recommendations to Health Canada on a stakeholder-supported outreach and engagement strategy.