Youth Action Alliance targets tobacco

Story by Jesse Thomas/ Special to Baytoday.ca. File photo.

YAA is one of 57 groups across Ontario with individual groups called FACT – Facing addictions caused by tobacco.

Their mission is to inform people, and youth specifically, about the harmful and manipulative ways of tobacco use and commercial tobacco companies.

Page Shemilt, a grade nine student at Widdifield high school says, “There aren’t a lot of groups out there that are the same age as the kids who are just starting smoking, so based on that we feel that we will be able to communicate on a better level.”

She added that young people tend to keep things like smoking a secret from older people but hopes that being the same age will create openness and solutions.

On May 31 from 4p.m. until 8p.m. at the Northgate Shopping Centre, YAA FACT members will have a kiosk packed with free information and quit smoking kits and urges teens to get involved.

YAA is currently looking for 44 volunteers to join their crusade for the Relay For Life event on June 15.

Information is available at the North Bay and District Health Unit.