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Trousse Jouer, s’amuser et vivre sans tabac
Le présent guide explique pourquoi la pratique des sports et des loisirs sans tabac est importante et comment créer, promouvoir et appliquer des politiques de lutte contre le tabagisme dans les environnements de sports et de loisirs.print and advertising. |
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Visitors to parks in the township of McNab/Braeside will soon be asked to butt out.
Several no smoking signs are being erected at area parks in order to protect children from the hazardous effects of smoke. Read further
The move is an initiative of the Renfrew County and District Health Unit in conjunction with the municipality.
In a statement released last Wednesday the unit stated they, "encourage and support local municipalities and the many sport and recreation organizations to develop tobacco-free policies and create tobacco-free zones so everyone can enjoy clean air and good health." To this end, several all-weather signs were made available to the municipality at no charge.
"Children deserve to breathe clean air whether they are playing at the local park or running on the soccer field," it continued.
The signs ask people to not smoke around playgrounds and playing fields. Encouraging tobacco-free sports and recreation is part of the Play, Live, Be Tobacco-Free initiative funded through the Ministry of Health Promotion.
"The cost of these signs is significant and worthwhile. It is in the best interest of the children," recreation director Geoff Patterson said.
The health unit presented the no smoking signage to the municipality at a special ceremony last Wednesday at the Burnstown Beach.
Currently there are no smoking signs at the boat launches only.
Smokers insisting on lighting up in the posted areas will be asked to butt out.
The municipality will start with eight signs and add as the need arises and feedback on the success of the program is received.
Hastings County (Belleville, Quinte West) January 2007 to July 2009
In 2007, Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Health Unit (HPECHU) was looking for support to develop policies towards smoke free spaces. After conducting a survey that found that over 85% of individuals in the two counties supported smoke free outdoor playgrounds and playing fields, this initiative was incorporated into the health unit’s operational plans.
As part of the plan, a health promoter was assigned to UNfiltered, the local Youth Action Alliance Group, who made "smoke free parks and playing fields" their main project for 2008/2009.
UNfiltered attended a workshop in Toronto about creating policies for smoke free parks and playgrounds and initiated a poster contest with Grade 4 children across the County. Through the contest the Grade 4 students learned about smoke free playing fields. UNfiltered also set up a "graffiti wall" at the Belleville Waterfront Festival and gathered public signatures of support during the event. The day following the festival, UNfiltered picked up all the butts they could find from the park and filled a large water jog (35 gallons!)
After these initiatives, UNfiltered asked the City of Belleville Council to post signs in playgrounds and parks (as a public bylaw already existed which stated that smoking was prohibited wherever signs were posted). Following that, the Program Manager for Tobacco Control was asked to speak to Quinte West Council about youth and tobacco. At that meeting, one council member asked what else they could they do to help reduce tobacco morbidity and mortality in Quinte West. The tobacco control program proposed that they allow UNfiltered to present to them about creating smoke free playgrounds and playing fields.
In response, a "briefing note" was developed about smoke free playgrounds and playing fields and sent to Quinte West and Belleville city council members prior to making the deputation. It focused on three key messages: role modeling, exposure to second hand smoke and litter and listed other municipalities where bylaws were passed.
The presentations to the Councils were conducted by UNfiltered and were well received. Quinte West moved to consider their deputation and UNfiltered returned the following month to witness council voting to pass a new bylaw to prohibit smoking in all playgrounds and playing fields. Soon after, the City of Belleville decided to move forward with posting signs to ensure their existing smoking bylaw was extended to parks and playgrounds as well.
In Spring 2010, there will be a large radio and print campaign to educate the public on the new smoke-free areas. Sports organizations will also be sent information to pass onto their registrants and visits will be made by enforcement officers to playing fields as sports seasons begin and throughout the season.
Submitted by Jordan Prosper, Hastings & Prince Edward Counties Health Unit 
