Lloydminster has been recognized as one of the 16 Alberta communities to receive the Smoke-Free Spaces award.
The City is one of the first municipalities in Alberta to ban smoking and vaping marijuana in public spaces, which played a major role in their recognition. Executive Director of Alberta Health Services Les Hagen said in a statement that the legalization of marijuana has the potential to renormalize smoking and places that have decided to get in front of the issue with their policies are making smoke free environments a priority.
The Smoke-Free Spaces program also recognized school boards and post-secondary institutions who promote a smoke-free environment. The program was developed by various health and recreation organizations including Alberta Blue Cross, AHS and Canadian Cancer Society.
Kate Chidester of the Heart and Stroke Foundation says they support the municipalities and public institutions that are updating their smoking bylaws to enable more smoke-free spaces, as well as addressing the consumption of illegal substances.
The awards were given out last week in Edmonton and other recipients included Camrose, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and St. Paul Education Regional Division.