Advocates praise Calgary’s proposed ban on smoking, vaping in parks
Posted Jun 2, 2022 5:41 pm.
Last Updated Jun 3, 2022 8:12 am.
The City of Calgary is looking to pass a bylaw that would prevent Calgarians from smoking cigarettes or vaping in public parks and along walkways.
Some say this move is a big step in the right direction.
“People get exposed to vaping and see it as sort of a fun and harmless activity, heavily marketed to young people,” said Brandie Walker, Respirologist at Foothills Medical Centre.
“Our approach as a society needs to be a consistent message and to me, it goes hand in hand with not having smoking and vaping in public places or places where it is likely there are going to be children who see the activity and think it looks like fun,” said Walker.
Walker says society’s lack of understanding and regulation of vaping is eerily similar to another generation’s smoking craze.
“It is mimicking 60 years ago, 50 years ago, when [smoking] was a cool thing to do,” said Walker.
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While researchers still don’t know the long-term effects of vaping or inhaling second-hand vaping, the city associating vaping with smoking might sway people from starting the habit.
“This is a good step in the right direction, it keeps the message consistent. Smoking is bad, vaping is also bad,” said Seong Eon Ha Co-founder of Stop Addicting Adolescents to Vaping & E-Cigarettes (SAAVE).
Ha says limiting the use of vapes in public can limit peer pressure.
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“It’s considered a cool activity right now, so a lot of kids think that to fit in, they have to vape and if you have a lot of friends vaping, that’s also an easy-access way to start vaping,” said Ha.
Calgary’s current bylaw prohibits smoking from within five meters of outdoor recreational facilities including playgrounds and outdoor sports fields.
Council’s debate and vote on the proposed bylaw will happen later this month.
If put in place, the ban would take effect on August 1.
