One year later, no smoke free bylaw charges laid

A year after its implementation, not a single person has faced a charge for breaking the city’s smoke-free parks bylaw.

That, said spokesman for Northwest Tobacco Control Area Network Dan DePeuter, is proof that the new law is having an impact.

“I think the bylaw is working," DePeuter said. "The compliance rates have been great and the public has been supportive. I don’t think it’s something everyone is going to jump on board right away but I think most people will, when they know what the rule is, they are going to try to abide by it."

Children from the Step by Step Child Care Centre, city councillors and health-care professionals helped to celebrate the anniversary of the bylaw a few days early at Vicker’s Park on Tuesday. The bylaw passed on June 1, 2010 and prohibited smoking within 10 metres of any playground equipment, public beach area and entrances to recreational facilities such as hockey rinks.

DePeuter said the lack of incidents in the first year told him that people are ready for a smoke free bylaw. While Thunder Bay didn’t start the initiative of smoke free bylaws, Thunder Bay did beat larger cities such as Vancouver and Toronto.

He said it was great to see cities implement these types of bylaws more frequently.

"It’s a real testament to how the people of Thunder Bay can look forward to making the city a better place to live, especially for our kids.”

Dr. Jim Morris, with the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, said the bylaw was a good example of how people enforce themselves not to smoke in areas that have children around.

Morris has worked hard to try to educate people to stop smoking. He said he was glad the bylaw passed and called the 10-metre distance from playgrounds a reasonable compromise.

"We’re not saying all of Boulevard Lake is smoke free, but if you are near the area where children and people are on the beach, you shouldn’t be smoking," Morris said. "In many respects the bylaw is self-enforcing. Parents and others will say go over there away from the slide and swings."

Anyone who wants help to quit can call the Smokers’ Helpline at 1-877-513-5333.