May 31, 2010 - More than 30 children from the Step By Step Child Care Centre came out to Vickers Park today – World No Tobacco Day –  to celebrate the City of Thunder Bay’s new smoke free parks bylaw which comes into effect tomorrow.  They joined representatives of the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Tobacco Free Thunder Bay and the Canadian Cancer Society’s Smokers’ Helpline.

Effective June 1, 2010, smoking will be prohibited:

• within 10 metres of playground equipment;
• within 10 metres of public beach areas; and
• within 10 metres of the entrances to recreational facilities like hockey arenas, community recreation centres and the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium.

“Thunder Bay City Council showed great leadership by enacting this bylaw as it will protect the children, the most vulnerable in our community, from the harmful effects of tobacco use in the areas where they play,” says Ken Ranta, Manager of Tobacco Programs at the Health Unit.   

Globally, tobacco industry product garbage, such as cigarette butts, is consistently the number one source of litter.  Over four trillion butts are thrown on the ground each year.  Cigarette butts have been found in the stomachs of wildlife and there is enough nicotine in just a few cigarette butts to seriously harm a small child.  Plastic spit tobacco containers and cellulose acetate cigarette filters are nearly impossible to break down, and the litter on the ground sends the message to young children that “everyone is doing it.”

Signage will be posted at city parks, beaches and at recreational facilities to inform people of the bylaw.  To further educate the community, the Health Unit will be conducting an education campaign throughout the summer months. 

“We expect that once people are aware of the new bylaw, there will be few issues related to non-compliance,” adds Ranta. “This has been the history in most communities where smoke free parks bylaws have been established.” 

There are currently more than 20 communities in Ontario with bylaws pertaining to smoking in parks and around playground areas and more communities are looking at this issue.

Anyone looking for more information about the new tobacco-free parks and beaches bylaw is encouraged to call either the City Bylaw Enforcement Office or the Health Unit.