Smoke-Free Summer: The Air is Shared
Written by Comms Team, May 29, 2025
Health Unit Celebrates World No Tobacco Day
For nearly forty years, May 31st has been celebrated as World No Tobacco Day. The day both commemorates the decades of work that public health agencies have engaged in to fight the tobacco epidemic and highlights the work that is yet to be done.
Locally, Peterborough has long been a provincial leader in tobacco-wise policies working to curb commercial tobacco use. The first local by-law was enacted in 1972, prohibiting smoking in workplaces; this preceded provincial smoke-free laws by nearly 35 years. In 2012, Peterborough once again was a leader in creating a by-law protecting park and playground users from harmful secondhand smoke. Since then, most of Ontario has become protected by the Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA), 2017, which prohibits smoking or vaping in many areas that children, youth, families, and athletes gather across the province – indoors and out.
Despite these laws being long-standing, some residents and visitors need a reminder that parks, playgrounds, beaches, and sports fields are smoke, vape, and cannabis-free.
“Peterborough and the Kawarthas are home to some of the best outdoor spaces in the province,” said Julie Bromley, Manager of Environmental Health at Peterborough Public Health. “From Musicfest concerts all summer, to baseball and soccer tournaments, to local farmers’ markets and street festivals, to beaches and playgrounds – we need people to know that the air is shared, and they can’t smoke or vape there.” Failure to comply with these laws could cost $305.
“When it comes to secondhand smoke, there are no safe levels of exposure,” said Dr. Thomas Piggott, Medical Officer of Health for PPH. “Likewise, nicotine from vapes impacts the developing teenage brain, affecting everything from mood, to memory, to concentration. When youth see people smoking or vaping, it normalizes it, undoing the decades of work that we are celebrating on World No Tobacco Day,” he added. “The SFOA is designed to protect everyone from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke and from vapour products”.
This winter, Tobacco Enforcement Officers (TEOs) from Peterborough Public Health worked in partnership with recreation staff in the City and County at local arenas to enforce the SFOA. Over a six-week blitz, the following infractions were addressed by TEOs:
- Charges: 6
- Healthy Planet Arena (1)
- Memorial Centre (3)
- North Kawartha Community Centre (1)
- Otonabee Memorial Community Centre (Keene) (1)
- Educational conversations: 42
- Formal warnings: 22
TEOs are also responsible for ensuring that Specialty Vape Shops and convenience stores don’t sell tobacco or vape products to minors. Since November 1, 2024, the following infractions have been addressed:
- Convenience stores: 6 charges; 4 warnings
- Specialty Vape Stores: 1 charge
With the change of season, TEOs and park staff will double down on their efforts to focus on parks, sports fields, patios, beaches, and other outdoor spots to ensure compliance with the SFOA and local bylaws. Residents can report smoking or vaping violations by calling 705-743-1000 or online at www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca/report-secondhand-smoke-vapour.
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