Smoke-Free Environments

Creating smoke-free environments is a great way to improve the health of your community. Smoke-free outdoor spaces are highly effective in helping children and youth grow up to be non-smokers. These environments also support people who are trying to quit. Communities with smoke-free bylaws have lower smoking rates, less toxic litter that can be swallowed by children or pets, and fewer wildfires.

The Legal Substances Team can provide support and consultation to communities interested in reviewing or implementing a smoke-free bylaw. Please connect with a Legal Substances Reduction Coordinator via email for more information.

The Tobacco & Vapour Enforcement Team is responsible for conducting routine retail inspections and compliance checks. Please connect with a Tobacco & Vapour Enforcement Officer via email with any questions or to report any tobacco and vapour retailer contraventions.
 

All public and private kindergarten to Grade 12 schools in B.C. are tobacco and vape-free under the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act and Regulation. This ban extends to all school property 24 hours a day, seven days a week, regardless of whether or not school is in session. The ban includes vehicles, parking lots, sports fields, driveways, courtyards and private vehicles parked on school property.

Tobacco and vaping information for schools

Interior Health is committed to promoting and protecting the health of our patients, employees and residents of the communities we serve. IH’s Smoke-Free Environment policy means that smoking and vaping are not permitted on our owned and/or operated premises, facilities, grounds and vehicles.

Here is what it means for you:

• We ask visitors and outpatients to not smoke cannabis, tobacco or use e-cigarettes while on our property. This help us provide a safe and healthy environment to all people that we serve.
• Patients in hospital who smoke or vape can access free nicotine replacement therapy to remain comfortable during their stay
• If you are an Indigenous patient and interested in the traditional use of tobacco, please discuss it with your IH Indigenous Patient Navigator
• Talk to your doctor or health-care provider if you would like assistance managing your tobacco and vaping use or quitting

Quitting tobacco or vaping