Clear the air
If you want to light up in City parks this summer, think again.
The City is expanding its smoking bylaw to include the spectator portions of Del Crary Park, East City Bowl and Riverside Park.
That decision received final approval from councillors at Monday's City council meeting. Councillors also committed to spending $10,000, from a reserve fund, for signs and a public education campaign.
This is just the first step in the City moving towards completely smoke-free parks, playgrounds and other public areas.
Peterborough is joining other municipalities in butting-out. Collingwood and Orillia were two of the first communities to pass smoking bylaws. Belleville and Toronto have also joined the ranks, with Toronto banning smoking from 833 playgrounds. In 2007, Peterborough amended its bylaw to prohibit smoking at the Riverview Park and Zoo.
"There is no known acceptable level of exposure to second hand smoke," said Donna Churipuy, manager of health protection at the local health unit.
The first phase of expanding the bylaw would start in 2009 and would target just the spectator areas at Del Crary Park, East City Bowl and Riverside Park. Each year more than 250,000 people visit Del Crary Park and East City Bowl. Phase two would examine further smoking restrictions at areas such as any playgrounds, sport fields, wading pools, pavilions, beaches, skateboard areas and picnic shelters with a possible 2010 implementation date. At Monday's meeting, three members of the Peterborough Youth Action Alliance voiced their support for the expanding the smoking bylaw. In 2008 the group conducted a survey at Del Crary Park and found that 92 per cent of the respondents said they would support tobacco-free parks in Peterborough. Youth Action Alliance Member Rachelia Giardino told councillors some 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are littered around the world. She said not only can small children and animals ingest the butts, but they also have a negative impact on the appearance of the community.
Reasons for going smoke free in Peterborough
- The majority of Peterborough's population is non-smoking. A 2007 Canadian
Community Health Survey from Statistics Canada found 79.1 per cent of residents in Peterborough do
not smoke. The amendment to the bylaw will benefit the majority of the residents.
- Children and youth model their behaviour after the people they look up to -
coaches, leaders, family and peers. Prohibiting smoking in parks and playgrounds
will reinforce a smoke-free lifestyle.
- Cigarette butts are the main source of litter in communities, beaches and
particularly at Del Crary Park and the Peterborough Marina. Prohibiting smoking is
one measure to protect the natural environment of Peterborough's parks and
playgrounds.
- There is no known safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke, even outdoors.
- Tobacco use goes against the health benefits gained by participating in sport and
recreational activities.
- It is important for youth to receive the same tobacco-free messages at their park-based
sport or recreation programs/activities as they experience at school and in
the wider community.
* From the local health unit and City staff
<SIZE size="175"></SIZE>
I, being a non-smoker, think this is a great idea. Being in a public place, where there are kids around, and kids not normally exposed to second hand smoke, i don't think people who do smoke should be allowed too in these parks. I think maybe there should be a designated area for them possibly, but i think its a good idea. IMO.
<SIZE size="175">Thoughts?</SIZE>
If you want to light up in City parks this summer, think again.
The City is expanding its smoking bylaw to include the spectator portions of Del Crary Park, East City Bowl and Riverside Park.
That decision received final approval from councillors at Monday's City council meeting. Councillors also committed to spending $10,000, from a reserve fund, for signs and a public education campaign.
This is just the first step in the City moving towards completely smoke-free parks, playgrounds and other public areas.
Peterborough is joining other municipalities in butting-out. Collingwood and Orillia were two of the first communities to pass smoking bylaws. Belleville and Toronto have also joined the ranks, with Toronto banning smoking from 833 playgrounds. In 2007, Peterborough amended its bylaw to prohibit smoking at the Riverview Park and Zoo.
"There is no known acceptable level of exposure to second hand smoke," said Donna Churipuy, manager of health protection at the local health unit.
The first phase of expanding the bylaw would start in 2009 and would target just the spectator areas at Del Crary Park, East City Bowl and Riverside Park. Each year more than 250,000 people visit Del Crary Park and East City Bowl. Phase two would examine further smoking restrictions at areas such as any playgrounds, sport fields, wading pools, pavilions, beaches, skateboard areas and picnic shelters with a possible 2010 implementation date. At Monday's meeting, three members of the Peterborough Youth Action Alliance voiced their support for the expanding the smoking bylaw. In 2008 the group conducted a survey at Del Crary Park and found that 92 per cent of the respondents said they would support tobacco-free parks in Peterborough. Youth Action Alliance Member Rachelia Giardino told councillors some 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are littered around the world. She said not only can small children and animals ingest the butts, but they also have a negative impact on the appearance of the community.
Reasons for going smoke free in Peterborough
- The majority of Peterborough's population is non-smoking. A 2007 Canadian
Community Health Survey from Statistics Canada found 79.1 per cent of residents in Peterborough do
not smoke. The amendment to the bylaw will benefit the majority of the residents.
- Children and youth model their behaviour after the people they look up to -
coaches, leaders, family and peers. Prohibiting smoking in parks and playgrounds
will reinforce a smoke-free lifestyle.
- Cigarette butts are the main source of litter in communities, beaches and
particularly at Del Crary Park and the Peterborough Marina. Prohibiting smoking is
one measure to protect the natural environment of Peterborough's parks and
playgrounds.
- There is no known safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke, even outdoors.
- Tobacco use goes against the health benefits gained by participating in sport and
recreational activities.
- It is important for youth to receive the same tobacco-free messages at their park-based
sport or recreation programs/activities as they experience at school and in
the wider community.
* From the local health unit and City staff
<SIZE size="175"></SIZE>
I, being a non-smoker, think this is a great idea. Being in a public place, where there are kids around, and kids not normally exposed to second hand smoke, i don't think people who do smoke should be allowed too in these parks. I think maybe there should be a designated area for them possibly, but i think its a good idea. IMO.
<SIZE size="175">Thoughts?</SIZE>