The university is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for students, employees and visitors. Smoking is only permitted in designated areas outside Ring Road. The university has continued to receive requests from staff and students to reduce second-hand smoke in their areas of work and study. Second-hand smoke is hazardous to health and can cause disease, including lung cancer, in healthy non-smokers.
Look for designated smoking areas, including marked benches and cigarette receptacles, in convenient and accessible locations. A
map of designated smoking areas is available.
We expect that everyone will be considerate, and voluntarily support this clean air initiative on campus. This program is intended to be self-enforcing and respectful to smokers and non-smokers. Signage has been added around campus to remind people to smoke only in designated areas. If you require additional signage, please email
clearair@uvic.ca with the specific location and request.
Your first step in getting ready to quit is to create a plan.
offers a wealth of resources to help you with this step as well as to start and then manage your process.
The BC Ministry of Health offers a Smoking Cessation Program for eligible BC residents to assist with the cost of prescription and non-prescription smoking cessation aids.
Information about the provincial program can be found at .
Second-hand smoke is composed of the smoke from the burning end of a cigarette or pipe, and the smoke that is blown into the air by the person smoking. Second-hand smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals. Two thirds of the smoke from a cigarette is not inhaled by the smoker, but enters the air around the smoker. WorkSafeBC regulations prohibit exposure to second-hand smoke.
Yes. Tobacco is acknowledged as the leading cause of preventable disease; scientific evidence indicates there is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke. Second-hand smoke has at least twice the amount of nicotine and tar as the smoke inhaled by the smoker. Non-smokers who breathe in second-hand smoke can acquire serious diseases including lung cancer, heart disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (emphysema and chronic bronchitis) and asthma. Regular exposure to second-hand smoke increases the risk of lung disease by 25% and heart disease by 10% (Source: The Lung Association of British Columbia).
No. Very little research has been done on e-cigarette health hazards, either for those who use e-cigarettes or those who are exposed to their vapours. As such, Health Canada continues to advise Canadians not to use e-cigarettes as they may pose health risks. Furthermore, Health Canada has not approved the sale of nicotine-based e-cigarettes in Canada. For additional information please go to:
