Youth take action on smoking issues

Ken Johnston

A new group of people are now working in the area to help youth quit smoking and preventing them from starting to smoke and to denormalize the use of tobacco for smoking.
The Youth Action Alliance (YAA) has been approved by the Ministry of Health as part of its new Smoke-free Ontario initiative and Rainy River one is one of two in the region; the other in Dryden.
The Northwestern Health Unit and the local Healthy Communities Coalition partnered to apply for the program which has seen four young people hired to work 10 hours per week in and around Rainy River.
Nick Ashworth said the group, which includes Amy Anderson, Jen McCormick and Brandon Gough, are currently working on a “Butt-stop” project. They are putting outdoor ashtrays outside of businesses to stop people from tossing their cigarette butts on the ground.
“We have written letters to the businesses and are now waiting for feedback,” said Ashworth.
Under the guidance of Alicia Nordin, hired by NWHU to oversee the local YAA, they are also working on individual projects. Ashworth said one of his ideas is to show the effects of smoking. “I am thinking about making snow angels, painting them black and posting statistics by them.”
Ashworth said the group has been to Quetico for training on how to get through to people using different techniques and how to speak in front of people. He will also be travelling to Washington, D.C. next summer to get even more training.
There are 30 YAA’s across the province. Ashworth said he dislikes smoking and hopes that they can get through to smokers and those thinking about smoking.