The smoke-free fight continues

Recently, there has been interest in the rapid movement towards P.E.I. becoming smoke free, the first province in Canada to do so. The movement is not recent, nor has it been rapid. The movement actually started in the early 1970s and it has been a marathon, not a sprint.

Early champions included Henry MacWilliams, Frank Zakem, Gilbert Clements and Jack Sands.

Many, many names are missing from that list; a champion can be anyone who made an impact, big or small. Such as, the person who influenced you to not start smoking, or influenced you to quit.

The main purpose of my letter is to recognize our current champions. Including, but not limited to, Rec P.E.I., Smoke Free P.E.I., the three levels of government, the Liberal, Conservative, Green and NDP local parties, UPEI and Holland College.

A special salute to Souris, Montague, Stratford, Charlottetown, Cornwall and Summerside for your work on a new smoke free bylaw that will include public places, such as business properties and rental units.

Also to all other municipalities, watersheds, Red Shore’s Raceway and Casino, and the P.E.I. Golf Association, etc. for your interest and promotion in making P.E.I. smoke free.

A major thumbs up to the Canadian Council Tobacco Control for their promotion of the following definition: smoke free means 100 per cent smokefree; public places, a public place is generally an indoor or outdoor place whether privately or publicly owned, to which the public have access, by right or by invitation, expressed or implied, whether by payment of money or not, but not a place when used exclusively by one or more individuals for a private gathering or other personal use.

Finally, my own personal kudos to all the municipals, groups, individuals, etc., who have warmly hosted me over the past 12 years, from tip to tip. It has been a pleasure but after close to 200 presentations, we are not done yet.