Tobacco & Vapour Free Schools

Smoke Free Schools

Under the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act all public and private kindergarten to Grade 12 schools in BC are required to be tobacco and vapour free. 

This means all tobacco and vapour products, are not allowed on school property at any time, even when school is not in session.

Tobacco and vapour free schools support families to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle and help schools take a health-promoting approach to tobacco and vapour reduction.

Vapour Product Resources

Tobacco and Vapour Educator Resources

  • This resource is intended to support educators to effectively address youth smoking and vaping. It provides tools, strategies, lesson plans, and activities to assist educators in starting and continuing conversations with students to support youth in making informed decisions about their health in relation to commercial tobacco and vapour products.

Healthy Schools BC

Healthy Schools BC works with partners from the health and education sectors, and with those from the broader community, to support students to develop healthy habits that will last a lifetime. 

A healthy school is a place where students have many opportunities – in the classroom, and in every aspect of their school experience – to foster their healthy physical, mental, social and intellectual development.

Ceremonial use of tobacco

The ceremonial use of tobacco is exempted from the ban on tobacco use in schools if the ceremonial use is approved by the school board and it is performed in relation to a traditional indigenous activity.

News & Events

parking sign

Pay parking resumes March 4, 2022

Effective March 4, 2022, pay parking will resume at all Island Health sites that previously had pay parking in place. 

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Caring for the Vulnerable

Caring for the Vulnerable

Healthcare professionals provide care in many settings, including hospitals, clinics, schools and people’s homes, but for those individuals who don’t have a fixed address and require care, some community health services staff go to them. 

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People unveiling a truth and reconciliation plaque.

Island Health Magazine Fall 2021

Read articles on building resilience in children; how loneliness impacts health; tips and recipes for healthy to-go lunches; information about IBD and a feature about patient partners.

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