Canada Winter Games to be Smoke-Free
Dignitaries pose with smoke-free proclamation. From left Stu Ballantyne, Dr. Sandra Allison, Terry Lake, Lyn Hall, Dr. Anne Pousette, Shirley Bond – photo 250News
Prince George, B.C. – Good news for non-smokers – the upcoming Canada Winter Games has been proclaimed smoke-free.
The announcement was made this morning, in honour of Weedless Wednesday and National Non-Smoking Week, by BC Health Minister Terry Lake in Prince George.
“I’m proud B.C. is hosting a smoke-free Canada Winter Games as it shows our commitment to continue reducing the rates of tobacco use in the province,” said Lake.
“Our tobacco use rates are the lowest in Canada at 16.2%, but we recognize that it is important to have supports and strategies in place that will encourage more people to quit, for their health and their family’s health.”
The proclamation of the games as smoke-free was created in partnership between Northern Health, the 2015 Canada Winter Games, and the City of Prince George.
It means there will not be designated smoking areas on-site at the 2015 Canada Winter Games’ outdoor venues and anyone wishing to smoke will have to leave.
“It’s a great news announcement,” said Canada Winter Games CEO Stu Ballantyne.
“Anything that we can do to promote healthier living and be smoke-free for the games is a big, big deal and we’re happy to be a part of this initiative.”
Comments
But I can still smoke on airplanes right?
That’s a good way to keep a lot of people away. And no, I don’t smoke.
Much like the people who smoke outside the hospital (although they’re not supposed to), I suspect smokers will ignore this and light up outside regardless of this declaration.
I’m going to have to agree with JB on this one. We can’t even get our current non-smoking laws enforced, why would we think this one any different?
Just watched this issue on the noon news, I was blown away that northern health employs a doctor to ” promote wellness” what a horrible waste of money.. wonder how many people work in that wing of northern health?
Well, that’s to be expected. So this is news???
These games are an elitist spectacle best seen on tv; if you have any interest in it at all.
Us serfs, that live here, aren’t going to be a factor at all.
Now the lack of snow??….that could be a factor!
You can rest assured they had no qualms about collecting the Winter Games Tax from smokers so that they could put these games on.
How much trouble would it have been to have designated areas for smokers??
In any event I suspect most people in Prince George and the surrounding areas will watch these games from the comfort of their TV rooms. That way you will be able to see everything that’s going on as opposed to standing in one spot staring at the forest.
Do they have a designated smoking area for all the TV/Radio people who will be taking up two stories of the Wood Innovation Centre. How about the hotels/motels that will be making a killing on these games. Will they have designated areas for them??? How about the bars, and restaurants. Will people be able to smoke outside??
Seems to me they are going after the public at large, while overlooking the commercial interests,. Hmmmmm.
Palopu, you’re making something out of nothing. This proclamation is just a symbolic one. I highly doubt anyone will get kicked off a Canada Games site because they are smoking outside.
I think it’s good that they made the games smoke free, but I agree with other posters that it is essentially a moot point as it will be difficult to enforce.
That said, I find smokers and smoking to be really trashy so I’m all for banning smokers from everything in life. They should make the smoke pit at the garbage dump to keep all the trash in one place.
Summit, I find your comments in regards to smokers very ignorant… I am a smoker and I totally respect others around me and don’t lite up when others are around me that don’t smoke but your comments are very offensive to say the least. What right do you have to tell me that I am trash because I smoke… grow up!!
Just think . Every time one enters a store and you smell some ones second hand smoke . That scent is carrying particles ( human cells ) of that person . You get the cells anyway but with a smoker around you get to smell the matter transfer we all must live with . Summit are you a hockey mum ? I laughed so hard my side hurt .
16.2% ,, Ha haha,, there is just as much illegal cigarettes and tobacco being sold in PG,,, as there is dope, and gang players..
Ataloss said in part Just think . Every time one enters a store and you smell some ones second hand smoke . That scent is carrying particles ( human cells ) of that person.—-huh—–
Tomorrow we will be informed that the Quebec team is boycotting the games because of the no smoking policy.
Whats next on the list? Flatulence?
“Whats next on the list? Flatulence?”
Rainbow flag in the hand of the snowman.
Silly me. I thought this was an article about snowboarding being cancelled… wrong smoke… carry on…
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