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Sabrina's Law
2007
42 min
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A documentary on the creation of Sabrina's Law in the province in Ontario, the first legislation in the world to protect children with deadly allergies. On a September morning in 2003, Sara Shannon handed her 13-year-old daughter Sabrina lunch money, gave her a kiss and watched her walk into the halls of a high school in Pembroke, Ontario. The next day Sabrina Shannon died of complications brought about by anaphylactic shock. Suspected cause of death: french fries from the school cafeteria. French fries that she had eaten before, only this time the cafeteria was also serving poutine. All it would …
A documentary on the creation of Sabrina's Law in the province in Ontario, the first legislation in the world to protect children with deadly allergies. On a September morning in 2003, Sara Shannon handed her 13-year-old daughter Sabrina lunch money, gave her a kiss and watched her walk into the halls of a high school in Pembroke, Ontario. The next day Sabrina Shannon died of complications brought about by anaphylactic shock. Suspected cause of death: french fries from the school cafeteria. French fries that she had eaten before, only this time the cafeteria was also serving poutine. All it would take is for the same tongs to be used in both dishes to set off Sabrina's reaction to dairy. Since then her parents have dedicated their lives to ensuring that what happened will never happen to another child.
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directorBarry Lank
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cinematographerBarry Lank
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producerLuanne LankMerit Jensen-CarrDerek Mazur
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executive in charge of productionMichael Ghent
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writerBonnie Dickie
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additional researchAngelo Eidse
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editorRandy Frykas
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original scoreMichael Richard Plowman
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camera assistantLinda Danchak
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audio recordistRuss DyckMark ObradovichDoug SuhrDaniel TremblayJerry Turchyn
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sound editAnita Lubosch
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re-recording mixerHoward Rissin
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online editingTony Wytinck
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still photographyBarry LankLinda Danchak
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narrationKathleen Whelan
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production managementLuanne LankDanielle Audette
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business affairsDodie GrahamAlexa Rosentreter
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production accountantJolyn Hoogstraten
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unit publicityJennifer Jensen
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legal affairsPaul Popeski Law Office
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production coordinatorRolande PetitMonique Perron
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program administratorCyndi Forcand
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marketing managerLeslie Stafford
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production supervisorScott Collins
Ages 15 to 17
School subjects
This documentary provides a way to analyze citizen activism. Ask students to explain, based on what they have seen in the film, how Sabrina’s mother’s legal struggle succeeded. They should also be prepared to explain the various mechanisms whereby a citizen’s cause can be brought before elected officials. They can also explore other causes that people rally around, and suggest an action plan, as seen in the documentary.