Butt out at these restaurant patios this summer

Daryl Vaillancourt, Chair of the Board of Health presents Terry Tourigny, owner of Casey’s Grill Bar, with a Certificate of Appreciation. Photo provided.

North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
News Release

********************

Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health, Daryl Vaillancourt, Chair of the Board of Health, and Mayor Al McDonald congratulated four local restaurants for being leaders in the community by voluntarily making their patios smoke-free. Effective today, the first day of summer, patrons can enjoy a smoke-free environment on the patios of Casey’s Grill Bar, Average Joe’s, Boston Pizza, and East Side Mario’s.

By making their patios smoke-free, these restaurants are protecting the health of the public and of their employees. Smoke-free environments not only reduce exposure to second-hand smoke, but they remove visual and sensory cues which prevent youth and young adults from starting to smoke through positive role modeling. They also help prevent relapse among those who have quit smoking and motivate tobacco users to quit or to cut back.
The Health Unit and the City of North Bay would also like to applaud Heritage North Bay who also made their whole park area smoke-free from the Discovery North Bay Museum to the Kate Pace Way at the Waterfront, including the Heritage Railway and Carousel.
The City of North Bay’s amendment to their smoke-free by-law to include patios is still under review. In the meantime, businesses with patios can join this direction by creating their own smoke-free patios. The Health Unit will be promoting these smoke-free spaces this summer.
For more information, call the Health Unit at 705-474-1400 or 1-800-563-2808, or visit www.healthunit.biz.
Quote
“The four restaurants who have made their patios smoke-free Casey’s Grill Bar, Average Joe’s, Boston Pizza, and East Side Mario’s as well as Heritage North Bay, who voluntarily made their Waterfront Park’s 30 acres smoke-free, are to be congratulated for moving forward with creating more smoke-free spaces. We want to thank them for their leadership and showing their commitment to protecting the health of our community.”
Dr. Jim Chirico
Medical Officer of Health/Executive Officer


“It’s very beneficial for our community that these four restaurants have taken the initiative to provide smoke-free patios for their customers. I am pleased that they are willing to step forward and provide this option for families and visitors in our community.”
Al McDonald, Mayor City of North Bay

“I want to congratulate Casey’s Grill Bar, Average Joe’s, Boston Pizza, East Side Mario’s and Heritage North Bay for seeing what our community wants – smoke-free spaces. They are to be commended for moving ahead and making their outdoor patios and spaces smoke-free.”
Daryl Vaillancourt, Chair
Board of Health

Quick Facts

 Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable illness and premature death in Ontario.

 In the area served by the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, 75% of residents aged 12 and older do not smoke either daily or occasionally.

 Results of a survey conducted by the City of North Bay indicated that 57% of respondents wanted smoking prohibited on all public and private outdoor patios where food or drinks are sold.

 Studies show that second-hand smoke concentrations can be as high outdoors as indoors.

 There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke.

********************