Algoma University bans smoking on campus
Smoking and vaping is no longer permitted anywhere on Algoma University's Sault Ste. Marie campus.
As of Sept. 1, smokers will have to leave university property to light up as Algoma put in place a complete ban on smoking and vaping.
There are no designated smoking areas to be found on the university grounds. Officials said they have been working toward a complete smoking ban for some time.
"We started over two years ago, and we've been working, slowly working towards eliminating all designated smoking areas on campus over the last nine months," said Brianne Pringle, director of people and culture at Algoma University. "We reduced the number and today, all designated smoking areas have been eliminated."
The smoking ban covers staff, students and visitors. Pringle said the burning of tobacco for ceremonial purposes is still permitted. And she said there will be an education phase to bring everyone up to speed on the new rules.
"If we see someone that is smoking on campus, the first step will be to remind people (that) we're not allowing smoking on campus anymore," she said. "Security will be patrolling the areas and will be enforcing, just like they would anything else, like parking illegally and any other thing security would typically enforce."
Tim van Weerden, vice-president of student life for the Algoma University Student Union, said they support the smoking ban.
"We totally understand the school's thought behind it," said van Weerden. "Creating a smoke-free campus, improving the air around the campus, helping the student body around you."
However, van Weerden said it remains to be seen how students will react.
"I do know that this coming Saturday is moving day for students on campus, so I think we will then see more how students are adapting to a new policy like this," he said.
Laurentian University in Sudbury and Nipissing University in North Bay still allow smoking and vaping in designated areas on campus. A spokesman for Sault College said designated smoking areas have been closed since the beginning of the pandemic, with no plans to reopen them this semester.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.
Djokovic needs medical attention after getting knocked on the head by a water bottle at Italian Open
Novak Djokovic needed medical attention after apparently getting knocked on the head by a water bottle after a win at the Italian Open on Friday.