New Ban On Smoking In Woodstock

Friday, 3 May 2019 08:56

Woodstock City council says they will go ahead and blanket smoking in all park and city trails.

WOODSTOCK - City council has decided to ban smoking in all city parks and trails in Woodstock.

This will include cigarettes, pipes as well as vaping products for tobacco and cannabis.

Mayor Trevor Birtch says this will promote a cleaner, healthier environment within the city.

"The city has been progressive in their treatment of bans on smoking. In consideration of other municipalities and provincial laws, and seeing the new environment that we're operating in, it was time to make this additional step forward."

Mayor Birtch adds nearby cities, who have implemented their own ban or are in progress, influenced council's decision.

There was a mixed reaction met from councillors. Councillor Jerry Acchione had mixed feelings on the decision, but Councillor Ron Fraser was in approval.

Director of Parks and Recreation Brian Connors says this ban will give residents a better understanding.

"Many of our larger parks, our more popular parks, are smoke-free already so we would have people in a lot of parks being smoke-free and then others were they could in certain spots, but not 20 metres away from certain assets. So it just brings a lot more clarity to folks. If this didn't go through, there'd be a lot of 'you can smoke in this part of this park, but you can't smoke in any part of another park.' And it just provides a lot more clarity on where people can and cannot smoke."

Connors says it could take up to 12 weeks before this by-law goes into effect.

The current by-law prohibits smoking at several locations in the Friendly City and within 20 metres of a playground or sports field.

Mayor Birtch says people will get used to the idea over time that smoking is no longer acceptable outside of recreational facilities.

"Many years ago when smoking was first banned in restaurants and bars, there was a lot of public outcry. And over time people got used to the new experience that when you're in a restaurant or bar, you're able to enjoy a good, clean environment and if you need to step outside, you can do so. And the same thing will happen with our recreation facilities, in time individuals will learn that it's no longer acceptable to be around others that want to enjoy what we have to offer in the community and the great outdoors."