Tobacco Free Policy
Parkdale Community Information Centre
COMMITMENT
Smoking kills 36 people every day in Ontario! Tobacco use is the #1 preventable cause of death in Ontario1 We recognize that there is ample research demonstrating the health hazards caused by the use of tobacco industry products2 (cigarettes, spit tobacco, snus, cigarillos, hookah, bidis and krekeks), including smoking, smokeless tobacco and breathing second-hand smoke, and understand our responsibility to the participants of our program to model and promote tobacco-free lifestyles.
Smokers and second-hand smokers all face the same health risks from tobacco industry products.
We stress to community staff, leaders, teachers, coaches, officials, parents, spectators, and all others involved, the importance of maintaining a tobacco-free environment while working with young people, children and community members.
POLICY
All games, activities, tournaments, competitions, sponsored events/fairs, and other performances sanctioned by Parkdale Community Information Centre will be tobacco-free. Tobacco free means no smoking, snuffing, dipping, or chewing tobacco by players/participants, coaches/leaders, parents, spectators, and officials during the period of all above mentioned activities.
We will promote the tobacco-free policy at all our activities by:
- Having staff/team leaders explain the policy to players/members/participants and ask them to explain the policy to their parents and others who may come to their game/activity/performance/event.
- Including the policy in the first notices about the recreation group/events/fairs so all new and returning participants, their parents/guardians, coaches/leaders and officials/managers know about the policy from the start.
- Making the policy visible throughout the year/season using various messages, including logos on uniforms/online/flyers, banners and encouraging members to promote active, healthy, tobacco-free lifestyles.
We will reinforce the tobacco-free policy at all our activities by:
- Encouraging all players /members/audience and parents at all our events to respectfully remind someone using tobacco about the tobacco-free policy – being able to point to a tobacco-free logo on a banner/flyers makes this easier.
- Consistently applying consequences with people who repeatedly break the policy – repeated violations by players/members/audience or their parent/guardian may result in a verbal and written warning from the coach/coach/leader/staff, in the case of a repeat coach/leader violation. Following a written warning the individual violating the policy again may be asked to leave the activity or game.
The policy is effective as of November 16th, 2010. The policy will apply at all our community events, festivals and recreational activities organized under all programs/services of the organization.
Note: 1. Tobacco-free fact sheet, www.playlivebetobaccofree.ca
2. Tobacco Industry Products fact sheet, www.playlivebetobaccofree.ca