Youth show support for Smoke-Free Ontario Act with Churchill Park clean up

In Ontario, it is now illegal to:

• Smoke on bar and restaurant patios
• Smoke within 20 metres of children’s playgrounds
• Smoke within 20 metres of sporting areas and the adjacent spectator areas (for example areas for soccer, baseball or skateboarding)

These changes came into effect January 1, 2015 and are part of the Ontario government’s plan to limit smoking in public places and reduce exposure to smoking. Signs will be installed at restaurant patios, sports areas and playgrounds to ensure that the public is aware of the legislation.

Now that the snow has melted and people are starting to use parks more, Youth Ambassadors from Region of Waterloo wanted to remind the public of the changes to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. Youth volunteers cleaned up cigarette butts and litter at Churchill Park in Cambridge this spring. The youth picked up 2,110 cigarette butts around the two playgrounds, the splash pad and the numerous sport fields at Churchill Park. The cigarette butts that were found at the park were used to create artwork of a no smoking sign. The artwork is a reminder of the negative effects the cigarettes can have on people and on outdoor spaces like parks.

The Youth Ambassadors also want to make people aware of the environmental damage that cigarette butts cause.

“One cigarette butt can take up to 15 years to decompose,” said Misbah Salim, a Youth Ambassador volunteer from Region of Waterloo Public Health.

“Littered cigarettes contain toxic and cancer causing chemicals like tar, arsenic and nicotine. The buildup of these chemicals in our environment leaches into our soil and waterways.”

The Youth Ambassadors would like to remind people who smoke to keep our parks smoke-free by not smoking within 20 metres of publicly-owned playgrounds and sports areas, and by properly disposing cigarette butts in an ashtray or butt-stop.

To report a complaint, contact Region of Waterloo at 519-575-4400. For more information visit www.regionofwaterloo.ca/smokinglegislation

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Media Contact: Julie Kalbfleisch, Manager, Information and Communications, 519-575-4400 x2270, jkalbfleisch@regionofwaterloo.ca