Movie Night With a Message

Impact volunteers are partnering with the City of Cambridge and Idea Exchange, to host a free outdoor movie night on July 12 at Forbes Park in Cambridge. The movie, “Back to the Future”, begins at 8:30 p.m., but the fun starts at 8 p.m.! The night will be filled with activities intended to provide information about the impact seeing smoking in movies has on youth, interactive screen texting, prizes and a special appearance by the film’s DeLorean car!

“The ratings should be changed because youth are subliminally motivated to start smoking if the character they connect with on-screen smokes,” says Matthew Gardiner, a tobacco peer leader with Impact.

Research indicates that the presence of tobacco in movies can influence youth to begin smoking. These studies show that in the past 10 years, 86% of movies with smoking in them were youth rated and that youth who see smoking in movies are more likely to become smokers themselves. Research has also shown that smoking in movies has influenced 185,000 children and teens in Ontario to become smokers. Impact wants to inform the public of this correlation and would like to see the rating system in Ontario change so that movies with smoking are rated 18A.

Youth are encouraged to dress up as their favourite characters from the movie to win the best costume prize. The movie night will also feature a new texting technology that allows the audience to text comments that will be displayed on the screen along with the movie. Free popcorn will be available for the first 150 people along with water; just bring your own chairs and blankets.

Impact is a youth-lead action group that provides education to peers; promotes healthy living; and positive change in Waterloo Region. Impact has planned many smoke-free movie nights in the region but is excited to host this first outdoor youth movie night in Cambridge. In the event that it rains on July 12, the movie will be moved to W.G. Johnson Centre, please check Impact’s website for up to date information www.regionofwaterloo.ca/impact.

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Media Contact: Kirsten Keil-Mehlenbacher, Coordinator, Health Communications, 519-575-4400, ext. 2244, Kkeil-mehlenbacher@regionofwaterloo.ca