School calls for anti-smoking bylaw
Smoke-free zone would spread to DRHS neighbourhood
Where there’s smoke, there may be a fine.
The principal of Digby Regional High School is hoping the town will pass a bylaw that declares a smoke-free zone encompassing the streets—both sides—that surround the school area.
In a presentation last week to the town’s streets committee, principal Ben Elms said he would like a ‘no smoking’ area around the school, taking in West, Mount, Church and King streets.
That zone would take in property used by an adult education centre, a corner store and a row of apartments. Elms said he is aware the idea won’t be welcomed by young smokers, or by many of the adults in the area. “Those are the kinds of issues that have to be looked at.”
For the town, there are other issues, says Mayor Frank Mackintosh.
“The big thing is, how to enforce it? “We’re not going to send (special constable) Richard Perry up there to the school. It’s better not to have a bylaw than have one you can’t enforce.”
Mackintosh says he suggested to Elms that the school would have to handle enforcement, but that he heard the teachers’ union wouldn’t support that.
“If we put a bylaw in, then it’s our problem,” said the mayor. “If (offenders) don’t pay the fine, the we have to take them to court.”
Tri-County Regional School Board has a policy banning smoking on school property, but Elms says the area between the school and the next door Lobster Trap building has become an unofficial smoking area.
As well, some student smokers gather at a nearby convenience store, and some, according to Elms, have used the foyers of nearby apartment buildings.
“It’s not just a student issue,” said Elms. “We have any number of adults passing through the school grounds. The driveway is a thoroughfare from one side of town to the next.”
Aside from the call for a bylaw, the school is preparing an anti-smoking blitz over the next couple of weeks, with information sessions, poster contests and guest speakers.
jdemings@digbycourier.ca
