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Municipalities and schools recognized for creating smoke free spaces

Jun 28, 2018 | 7:25 AM

EDMONTON- Sixteen Alberta municipalities, school boards and post-secondary institutions have received Smoke-Free Spaces recognition awards for approving comprehensive smoke-free bylaws and policies in their communities, school districts and on their campuses.

Among those recognized were Wolf Creek Public Schools and Burman University. 

The Smoke-Free Spaces program recognizes those that have gone the extra mile to promote healthy, smoke-free indoor and outdoor spaces. 

The program was developed by organizations including Action on Smoking & Health, Alberta Blue Cross, Alberta Health Services, Alberta Recreation and Parks Association, Canadian Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke Foundation and The Lung Association.

“We applaud these trail-blazing leaders for providing smoke-free indoor and outdoor environments for their residents, visitors, staff and students” said Les Hagen, executive director of Action on Smoking & Health (ASH).  “Cannabis legalization has the potential to renormalize smoking and these public bodies have decided to get in front of this issue by extending their smoke-free policies to include any substance that can be smoked or vaped.  We encourage all public bodies in Alberta to follow the lead of these exemplars and to place a top priority on protecting the quality of life of their residents, staff, and students as cannabis legalization approaches”.

The award winners have been officially designated as Smoke-Free Communities, Smoke-Free School Districts and Smoke-Free Campuses by the program partners. 

The winners will be supplied with signage, posters, decals, artwork and online resources to promote their new designation to residents, visitors, staff and students. 

The materials are intended to assist with the implementation and promotion of their new smoke-free bylaws and policies.

(Gary McKinnon)