Rogers Teams up with Vancouver Goldeneyes Sarah Nurse to Bring Screen Break National School Program to B.C.

Nurse visits Burnaby schools to talk about screen balance with students

Rogers continued its national school program with a visit from Olympian and PWHL player Sarah Nurse, who spoke with students at two high schools in British Columbia about building a healthy, balanced relationship with their screens.

As someone who grew up with technology, Nurse met with students to share her personal experience navigating her own screen time. The visits are part of Rogers Screen Break program, a five‑year, $50 million commitment to help Canadian youth and families address excessive screen use.

“Screens are something I rely on every day, both in my life and my career, but I’ve learned that finding balance and knowing when to disconnect is just as important,” said Nurse. “Since I started working with Rogers on the Screen Break program, I have been more conscious about my screen use. I loved having honest conversations with students about finding that balance in their own lives.”

In January, Rogers launched Screen Break, a national program with four pillars to help balance screen time: parental tools, youth programming, research and partnerships, and education and advocacy. A core element of the program includes partnering with professional athletes to engage teens in real‑life conversations about healthy screen use through a national school program.

“Athletes like Sarah Nurse are uniquely positioned to connect with young people because they understand life online and the pressures that come with it,” said Sarah Zupnik, Rogers Screen Break Program Director. “Sarah’s authenticity and close connection to students’ lived experiences make her a powerful voice to help raise awareness about screen balance.”

Nurse’s Burnaby school visits follow the national school program’s kickoff with Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage. Rogers also hosted an Unplug & Play event in Vancouver during March Break.

“This engaging opportunity is one of many important ways that we look to support mental wellness for students, which is a key priority across the Burnaby School District,” said Burnaby Central Secondary Principal Chris Sandor. “Hearing the story of such an incredible role model as Olympian Sarah Nurse is another way for youth to learn about balanced mental health strategies to ensure that screen time doesn’t interfere with building real life connections or prioritizing physical activity.”

A Rogers study found that Canadian youth aged 11–17 spend an average of 5.2 hours per day on their phones, significantly exceeding the two‑hour recreational screen time guideline recommended by the Canadian Paediatric Society. More information about Screen Break and resources for families can be found at rogers.com/screenbreak.