London, ON – It’s clear that smoking doesn’t belong in London’s parks, playgrounds, sport fields or at the entrance to municipal buildings. Starting in two weeks, that reality will be enforceable under the City of London’s new Smoking Near Recreation Amenities and Entrances Bylaw. Before the bylaw comes into effect on May 1st, the Middlesex-London Health Unit’s youth team, One Life One You, will be leading a community effort to clean four London parks. The Parks and Playgrounds Clean-Up happens Friday, April 19th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Harris Park, West Lions Park, Ivey Park and the Forks of the Thames.

The new bylaw prohibits smoking within nine metres of park recreational amenities such as playground equipment, splash pads, sport fields and spectator areas, and the entrances to municipal buildings such as arenas, libraries and community centres. Since students will be out of school on Friday April 19th for a PD Day, One Life One You is encouraging youth and adults alike to join in the effort to clean up the parks. The clean-up effort will focus on cigarette butts, cigarette packages and other trash that doesn’t belong where children play.

“The new Bylaw will limit young people’s exposure to second-hand smoke and will reduce the number of adults using tobacco in front of children and youth,” says Linda Stobo, Manager of Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “Seeing adults smoke, especially role models like parents, older siblings, coaches and athletes, strongly influences kids’ decisions to smoke themselves.”

“These are the recreational places where children, youth and families go to play sports and have fun. When people smoke at our parks, playgrounds and sport fields, we get the idea that everybody smokes and that it is part of the game,” says Andrea Hanke, from One Life One You. “Smoking doesn’t belong in places where we can get active. The clean-up is an opportunity for youth to help get our parks ready for this Bylaw.”

Youth who participate in the Parks and Playgrounds Clean-Up will receive community service hours for their efforts. Participants are encouraged to wear boots, gloves, hats and to use sunscreen. Additional safety information can also be found by visiting the One Life One You page on the Middlesex-London Health Unit's website.

One Life One You is a group of youth employed by the Middlesex-London Health Unit who advocate to their peers about the dangers of tobacco industry product use and how the industry targets youth. One Life One You also offers interactive, peer-to-peer educational activities aimed at encouraging youth to lead healthier lives.

Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit, 519-663-5317 ext.2469 or 519-617-0570 (cell.)

Spokesperson:
Linda Stobo, Program Manager, Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control, Middlesex-London Health Unit