Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Perth District Health Unit
City of Stratford Alerts Residents to Outdoor Smoke-free Bylaw
On September 23, 2013, Stratford City Council passed an amendment to its smoke-free bylaw to make outdoor spaces no-smoking zones. With the spring season now here, the Health Unit and Stratford City Council would like to make Stratford residents aware about this bylaw. The bylaw prohibits smoking nine metres from all municipal building entrances, at bus shelters, on playgrounds and at sports fields. It also prohibits smoking on the entire grounds of Stratford General Hospital.
Stratford has joined more than 120 municipalities across the province that have passed outdoor no-smoking bylaws to make their communities healthier.
“Research indicates there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke, even outdoors,” says Miriam Klassen, Medical Officer of Health. “We are pleased that the City of Stratford has shown leadership by passing this bylaw and helping protect the health of its residents.”
Other benefits of this bylaw amendment include:
- helping to prevent youth from starting to use tobacco by limiting their exposure
- helping people to quit smoking
- reducing cigarette butt litter in parks and playgrounds.
The Health Unit’s THINK youth team completed a cigarette butt clean-up on April 25, 2014 for Earth Week. The group collected over 1,000 cigarette butts from areas that are affected by the bylaw, such as around the Stratford City Hall building, Queen’s Park and on the grounds of Stratford General Hospital.
Signage will be installed in various locations around the city and on hospital property to ensure the public is aware of the bylaw. Residents who are found smoking in prohibited areas may be ticketed with a fine.
Information on the bylaw can be found on the City of Stratford website at www.stratfordcanada.ca. For more information about tobacco and stopping smoking:
Media Contact:
Rebecca Hill
Communications Manager
519-271-7600 ext 279
rhill@pdhu.on.ca
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