A smoke-free campus starting May 1, 2018
We are pleased to announce as part of a health promotion initiative, effective Tuesday, May 1, 2018, Langara College will become a smoke-free campus.
With this change, Langara joins other BC post-secondary institutions (such as Emily Carr University and Kwantlen Polytechnic University) that have recently implemented smoke-free policies to create a safe and healthy teaching, learning and working environment for all members of the College community. This initiative aligns with the international Okanagan Charter, a transformative vision for health promotion in universities and colleges.
Our new Smoke-Free Policy will apply to all visitors to campus as well as staff, students and faculty. Smoking and vaping will be prohibited everywhere on campus including inside private vehicles while those vehicles are parked on campus. Provisions have been made for the ceremonial use of tobacco within our Aboriginal community.
The decision to prohibit smoking and vaping on campus was not made lightly. A task force comprising of representatives from across the college have met since 2016 and discussed many options and possibilities for regulating these activities on campus. We explored these options thoroughly and concluded that a smoke-free policy, complemented by resources and support, best aligns with our efforts to create a working and learning environment that promotes the overall health and wellness of students and staff.
In 2017, we surveyed students and employees and the results showed that 74% of respondents strongly supported moving to a smoke-free campus. The Smoke Free Committee, with the help of the Langara College nursing students, has made evidence-informed recommendations for policy development, based on the survey data and in consideration of changing societal norms regarding smoking.
We would like to thank our community for their support of and co-operation with this change, which we believe is a positive step forward for the College. Please take a moment to read the policy in full and review our FAQs. Any additional questions or concerns can be sent to smokefree@langara.ca.
Dawn Palmer
Vice President, People Services
