Vancouver Coastal Health says there’s growing interest in getting some tougher local bylaws on smoking in Sunshine Coast communities.
In a recent survey of smokers and non-smokers, VCH found strong support for things like increasing the buffer zones around doors and windows and banning smoking on restaurant and bar patios. There was also some support for bans at parks and public beaches.
Caitlin Etherington is VCH’s Regional Tobacco Reduction Coordinator.  She’s hosting an action planning session on “securing smoke free spaces” this Thursday (Feb 6), in partnership with the Cancer Society. She says it’s not necessarily about convincing municipalities to draft new bylaws, there could be other strategies too.
Etherington says southwestern BC is already at the forefront, with many communities going beyond provincial rules, but the Sunshine Coast lags behind.
The event starts at 4pm at the Heath Unit office in Sechelt.
