Updated: Sun May. 15 2011 13:45:19

ctvcalgary.ca

For the first time in western Canada a convention was held to examine the effects of sports related injuries on amateur athletes.

HEAD ON is an initiative to help educate players, parents, and coaches about the long and short term affects of concussion and head injuries.

The Calgary Bulldogs joined forces with the Calgary Stampeders, Hockey Calgary, Calgary Midget Football League, and a dozen other sponsors to organize and host the sessions.

The event attracted amateur athletes, coaches and parents for the day-long symposium at the University of Calgary on Sunday.

All proceeds from the event went to KidSport Calgary.

The Keynote speaker was Chris Nowinski, a former Harvard football player and WWE professional wrestler, and co-founder and president of the Sports Legacy Institute in Boston.

The institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing, increasing understanding of, and mitigating the sports-related concussion crisis.

Nowinski was forced to retire after sustaining a series of concussions.

He has authored an insider's book on the subject called "Head Games: Football's Concussion Crisis"

Calgary Bulldogs Football Association President Darcy Andres says support for the program is growing.

"It's much bigger than just football and it's certainly much bigger than just the Bulldogs. It's a reality we're bearing witness to almost daily in some shape or form, both in professional and at the amateur level of sport. And while it's certainly not exclusive to, it is much more prevalent in all contact sports," said Andres.

Experts say there is also a link between post-concussion and depression.

The Sports Legacy Institute in Boston examines the brains of athlete's, post-mortum, and trys to advance the study, treatment and prevention of the effects of brain trauma.

They examined NHL player, Bob Probert's brain tissue, after he died, and found he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the same degenerative disease that was found in more than 20 deceased professional football players

The Institute will be taking a look at the brian of Derek Boogaard, after he died at the age of 28, last week.

The group hopes to make this a yearly event.

For more information on HEAD ON visit the Calgary Sport Council website.