1996: The city of Guelph goes smoke-free

CPHA Health Digest, Vol. 20, No. 1, Spring 1996

Karen L. Armstrong, MA, DPH
Tobacco Prevention Department

The Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit, in conjunction with the Lung Association, the Canadian Cancer Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation, mounted an effective community campaign which produced one of the most progressive smoking by-laws in Canada.

The new by-law prohibits smoking in all municipal buildings, on any bus, on any escalator, elevator or stairway, in any theatre, in any service line or public restroom. Restaurants are required to provide at least 50% of the total indoor seating area as non-smoking. In 1997, at least 60% of the total seating must be non-smoking, in 1999, at least 75% of the total seating must be non-smoking and commencing in the year 2000, no person shall smoke in any Guelph restaurant within the City of Guelph.

Smoking is restricted in bingo halls, bowling alleys and taxi cabs. Workplaces may designate a smoking area of not more than 25% of an enclosed workplace and it must be separately enclosed from the remainder of the enclosed workplace. It also must be an area to which non-smoking employees do not require access, i.e., not a storage area, or eating area.

A massive “thank you” campaign was undertaken after the by-law passed. Other cities and agencies wrote congratulatory letters to Council. Constituents wrote letters to the newspapers and the media and phoned their Councillor to thank them for the by-law which responded to their concerns and for a job well done!