You don’t have to be big to do something big.
A tiny, gutsy resort village on the west side of Vancouver Island is attempting to do what once seemed a ridiculous idea — ban smoking outdoors, in public parks specifically.
When it happens, Red Deer shouldn’t be far behind. In fact, it might be a good platform for anyone planning to run for Red Deer city council this fall.
Not that long ago, the very idea of banning people from smoking outdoors seemed far-fetched, radical, oppressive. That’s changing.
Indoor smoking bans are mainstream now. In Alberta, as in much of Canada, you cannot smoke in public places such as restaurants and bars, and workplaces. Education has helped raise awareness about the killer effects of smoking. Overall smoking rates continue to decline but the habit still manages to kill about 3,500 Albertans every year.
Beyond the health effects, smoking is also stinky and dirty. There are few worse smells then old wet cigarette butts. Unfortunately, when you go outdoors anywhere, it doesn’t take long to find evidence of smoking.
Gradually, the anti-smoking movement has been making its move on outdoor spaces. And more and more, smokers themselves are voluntarily taking themselves outside to smoke, rather than puff away in their homes, especially if they have children.
Tofino, resident population about 1,900, is gaining a reputation as a bit of a Canadian trend bucker — it also is looking at banning franchise businesses such as Starbucks, Tim Hortons and McDonald’s in an effort to maintain the area’s charm, accentuated by places that offer products like organic bread and fair-trade coffee. Like the locals, tourists love it.
It’s the uniqueness of the village and area by the ocean that draws tourists annually. Among many other outdoor eco-activities, you can surf, whale watch, storm watch and bird watch in Tofino.
The Tofino district draws about a million visitors each year. So banning smoking in public park areas could have a major impact. Imagine what might happen as those hundreds of thousands of visitors go home thinking about how nice it was to visit the playground or beach and not run into secondhand tobacco smoke or smokers’ trash.
We may not quite be Tofino, but a lot of Red Deerians would find the idea of banning outdoor smoking in public places appealing, especially as warm weather arrives and everyone’s chomping at the bit to be outside.
Is it going too far? Are smokers already too put upon?
There’s some suggestion that education, rather than legislation, might be a better approach. Signs could be put up in park areas asking people not to smoke. That’s sort of like asking everyone to please put on their seatbelts.
One member of Tofino council noted that parks are supposed to be places of health and recreation. A couple of other municipalities in B.C. are considering similar outdoor public places smoking bans. California is going to ban smoking in almost 300 state parks and beaches.
One day not too far down the road, we’ll wonder why it didn’t happen everywhere, sooner, including in Red Deer.
Mary-Ann Barr is Advocate assistant city editor. She can be reached by email at barr@www.reddeeradvocate.com or by phone at 403-314-4332.