Ear Falls is the first NWO community to go 100% smoke free

NWHU Press Release

The northern Ontario town that was awarded a Trillium Foundation Caring Community Award in October of 1998 just proved once again that it is a community that cares about the health of its citizens. On April 3rd, 2002, the town council became the first in Northwestern Ontario to pass a 100% smoke-free bylaw that will see all indoor spaces in their municipality go smoke-free on September 3, 2002.
Mayor Geoff McClain sees the decision of his council as a positive move that other councils in Northwestern Ontario will want copy. “ There can be no question in the mind of council members who have taken the time to review the health evidence placed before them that this decision is the right one for a healthy community.” Said the Mayor. “It is sometimes tough to make decisions like this but we are confident it is the right one for our town.”
Jennifer McKibbon, Health Promoter from the Northwestern Health Unit who attended the meeting to answer the council’s questions about a bylaw implementation process, was thrilled at the outcome. “This council has done what no other council in the northwest has had the guts to do. I am so very proud of them and give them all the credit for this decision. It has been my privilege to support them with information but they did the hard work.” The health unit will continue to support Ear Falls as they embark on the process of community education leading up to the date the bylaw will be implemented.
An implementation date of September 3rd, 2002 was chosen to accommodate a period of time for community education and understanding. Implementation in a warm weather month will also ease the required change in behavior for the smokers who will then have to take their smoke outside.