Wilmot Township could become the first municipality in Waterloo Region to enact a smoke-free bylaw around outdoor facilities like playgrounds and sports fields.
The concern is directed towards smokers who choose to light up while attending sporting events at township facilities, where there are often a lot of young kids playing outdoors.
Some parents have expressed concern not only about the potential health effects of second hand smoke, but also about the bad example that it sets.
Mother of two, Paulette West, envisions a future where kids on the playground wont’ be subjected to smoke.
“If we are providing all this great minor sports for our children great recreational facilities it would be nice if that area is smoke free for them.”
She approached the Mayor of Wilmot Township with the idea of implementing a bylaw that would prevent smokers from lighting up at outdoor sporting events and playgrounds.
If it’s enacted, signs will be posted on venues to deter smokers from lighting up. West also hopes it will give non-smokers like her the confidence to speak.
“Hopefully people who are smoking will realize, Maybe I should take it somewhere else.”
Mayor Les Armstrong says the request for the bylaw is something that the Township is seriously considering.
“Being a former smoker I understand and know what they are going through. We are going through the procedures and we are into it, to see what we have to do it will probably lead to a by law from the Township in order to be able to enforce it.”
Outdoor smoking bylaws like this are already in place in some other municipalities like Woodstock and Tavistock and so far according to city officials, it seems to be working.
James Arand has smoked for the last 30 years, he says he already keeps from smoking around non-smokers.
“I already usually keep from lighting up around people who don’t smoke so, I don’t think the bylaw would affect me too much, I mean I can always move to an area somewhere else where I can smoke you know.“
If a bylaw is enacted signs will be posted on venues to deter smokers and west says that will also give non-smokers like her the confidence to speak up.
