Background
The division recognizes a responsibility to provide safe environments for students, staff and visitors. The health impacts of tobacco use, nicotine addiction, smoke-laden environments (second/third-hand smoke), and the use of smokeless tobacco are linked to serious illnesses. Commercial tobacco products, electronic smoking devices, and smokeless tobacco, are therefore prohibited by all persons in all school division buildings, in school division vehicles, and on accompanying grounds.
Although it is acknowledged that tobacco use is very habit-forming and difficult to quit, refusal to comply with this procedure is considered insubordination and/or non-compliance with student conduct policies and procedures.
Volunteer supervisors are also expected to abstain from smoking, the use of commercial tobacco products, electronic smoking devices, and smokeless tobacco while driving or in the immediate vicinity of students.
Smudging or pipe ceremonies will be allowed if performed as per the requirements that follow.
Definitions
Commercial Tobacco Products: Any substance containing tobacco leaf that is intended for commercial sale. This includes but is not limited to cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, pipes, hookah/waterpipes, shisha, snuff, chew, dip, bidis, blunts, clove cigarettes, or any other product or substance containing tobacco.
Electronic Smoking Device: Any product that contains and/or delivers nicotine or other substance for human consumption in vapour or aerosol form. This includes devices that are self-constructed or manufactured, distributed, marketed, or sold as an e-cigarette, e-hookah, vape pen/mod/pod or other such device.
Hookah: Waterpipe or other associated product or device which is used to produce fumes, smoke, and/or vapour by burning materials such as but not limited to tobacco, shisha, or other substances.
Smokeless Tobacco: Any commercial tobacco product that is ingested or masticated for consumption. Products include but are not limited to chewing tobacco, snus or snuff.
Procedures
1. Tobacco Free Environment
- To effect a "Tobacco-Free Environment" in the school division, "No Tobacco or E-cigarette Use" signs shall be posted in all school division facilities and vehicles.
- Employees who fail to adhere to this procedure will be dealt with by their immediate supervisor with an initial warning and subsequent discipline, if necessary.
- Students who fail to adhere to this procedure will be dealt with by school administration with an initial warning and subsequent discipline, if necessary.
- This procedure applies to all community groups and organizations, and the general public who visit or use Board owned facilities. It also applies to volunteer supervisors while driving or in the immediate vicinity of students.
- Persons older than 18 years of age are expected to respect the community surrounding school division property, including its residents, businesses, and institutions, by refraining from littering and by upholding related community bylaws and provincial legislation. Minors are strictly prohibited from possessing tobacco products whether on or off the school premises, as per the Alberta Tobacco and Smoking Reduction Act.
- The promotion, advertising, or sale of smoking products—tobacco, electronic smoking devices, and or cannabis—are prohibited on all properties.
- Contractual agreements with manufacturers or subsidiaries of commercial tobacco and vaping products are prohibited.
- Medically-approved nicotine replacement therapy products, including inhalers, patches, chewing gum, and lozenges intended to treat tobacco use, are permitted under this procedure.
2. Prevention & Education
- Whenever practical, Grasslands School Division will offer gender-specific and culturally-sensitive prevention and education supports to students, through its Prevention Educator Program.
- This may include referral supports for smoking cessation, addictions counseling, and/or nicotine replacement therapy.
3. Indigenous Exemptions and Use of Sacred Tobacco
Ceremonial use of sacred tobacco and smudging is a protocol that has long been observed and performed by many First Nations. First Nations in western Canada generally use sweetgrass, sages, cedars and other plants for smudging. When preparations are made to smudge, the sweetgrass, sages, cedars and other plants are lit with matches or hot coals. The smoke is then used with the person's hands in a 'washing' manner by pushing or cupping the smoke towards them. Grasslands School Division recognizes that smudging and the use of herbs and tobacco are a part of the indigenous traditional way of life and are, therefore, permitted in Grasslands schools, subject to proper safety measures.
- Any student with respiratory problems who requests, or whose parents request, exemption from the ceremony, will be excused.
- If smudging is to take place in a Grasslands building it will be in a designated area.
- Any areas designated as smudging areas are to be well ventilated and approved by the Manager of Facilities and Maintenance.
- Designated smudging areas must contain a fully charged fire extinguisher.
- Staff responsible must be instructed on the use of fire extinguishers.
- When smudging ceremonies are completed, the materials must be fully extinguished and disposed of in an appropriate manner.
- Smoking or warm smudging materials need to burn out on their own.
- Smudge remnants and matches are to be placed in a tin can and saved.
- Smudge remnants are never to be placed in trash receptacle.
Pipe ceremonies involve the use of tobacco and will be performed only by a pipe carrier. The same safety protocols are to be followed as for smudging.