Youth Engagement

Youth Action Committee on Tobacco Issues

The Youth Action Committee (formerly the Youth Advisory Committee) was formed in 1999 to give advice about anti-tobacco programs targeted to youth and to provide ways to reach a young audience . Youth have been recruited from each province and territory and currently the team is comprised of 17 members (ages 14 to 19) from across Canada, reflecting the diversity of the Canadian society. The Tobacco Control Programme is committed to implementing ideas from youth.

The Youth Action Committee (YAC) members are also involved in health and tobacco groups in their own provinces and territories as well as in their own communities and schools. The YAC has at least one national meeting each year and has regular teleconferences to discuss the issues the members feel are important.

National Forum on Youth and Young Adult Tobacco Control Issues

YAC was very much involved in the planning and implementation of the National Youth and Young Adult Forum on Tobacco Control held February 26 - 28, 2005 in Ottawa. The Forum was a gathering of 142 youth, aged 16-18 and young adults, aged 19-29, from all across Canada who have a common interest in reducing tobacco use in Canada . The theme for the 2.5 day event was Knowledge + Passion = Action.

As part of that Forum, the participants explored the potential future directions for tobacco control in Canada in order to help shape a Framework for Action on Youth and Young Adult Tobacco Control Issues.

National Forum on Youth and Young Adult Tobacco Control Issues - 2005
        Forum Story
        Evaluation Report

Much Music/Musique Plus Youth Forums

In August 2002, Smoke-Free Spaces delegates and YAC members participated in youth forums on Much Music and Musique Plus to discuss second-hand smoke issues.
Check it out

Much Music/Musique Plus "Streeters" Project

The "Streeters" project featured YAC (1 Quebec / 4 outside Quebec ) implementing some of the action plan ideas from the Smoke-Free Spaces conference. The youth involved in the project each received a digital video camera along with instructions for gathering footage.
Check it out

Anti-Smoking TV Ad Contest

In September and October 2001, the Office of Prevention, Cessation and Education partnered with Much Music/Musique Plus to conduct a national contest inviting youth to design anti-smoking advertisements. Over 1000 English and 500 French entries were received by Much Music/Musique Plus. The winning ads were produced with and launched on Much Music and Musique Plus in May 2002.
Check it out

Smoke-Free Spaces:

In addition to the national meeting, YAC members attended Smoke-Free Spaces, a national youth conference on second-hand smoke issues in January, 2002. YAC members recommended that the focus be on raising the profile of second-hand issues among youth and they helped shape the content for the toolkit.

Smokefree Spaces Activist Toolkit was developed to inform, inspire and support youth activism on creating smoke-free environments. The Toolkit comprises youth-focussed facts and information on second-hand smoke, a primer on youth advocacy, a multi media library and tools and resources to help youth plan and carry out activities, media events, presentations and other school and community-based activities.

Smoke, Lies and Videotape" Contest

The Health Canada, Tobacco Control Programme in British Columbia (B.C.) is pleased to announce that the Public Service Announcement "Don't Give Addiction" produced by students at Rutland Sr. Secondary School (Rutland, B.C.) was voted the winner of the second annual "Smoke, Lies and Videotape" Contest.