CWYC's Blog

Some Fresh Controversy

freshheir — Wed, 20 May 2009 23:21:48 +0000

On April 21st, 23rd, and 25th, Fresh Heir did a “Chalk & Run” in the down town areas of Simcoe. Messages chalked were about the tobacco industry and its products. With permission from the town council to do this event, the bright and youthful messages were able to stir up both good and bad media attention.

After the Chalk & Run Fresh Heir had a concert called “Face the Music” on May 7th. Teens were able to go to a local highschool and hear their talented peers perform for free. As well, students got the message that the tobacco industry spends 6 billion dollars a year targeting youth, and by purchasing their deadly products, we have been giving them an encore. Fresh Heir gave a backstage look at how the tobacco industry really performs. The tobacco industry might have thought that they had a hit, but it was time to make them face the music. With both of these events we grabbed local media attention and got a lot of positive support from our town council.

On June 27th Fresh Heir did a tobacco free sports event to educate players, spectators, and coaches at the Oneida baseball feild. There was a booth set up to attract people over to the display board, ball toss game, obsticle course, and tobacco trivia wheel. Free givaways were provided for people who participated in the activities Fresh heir hosted, and packages for coaches were handed out, so that they could impliment tobacco free values to the players. The event was focussed on living a tobacco free life and being healthy when participating in recreational activities. This event was a great success and was recieved with a positive attitude by the media, as well as spectator

On June 13th, Fresh Heir did a series of flash mobs on the Port Dover beach front. With 21 teens clad in red periodically “froze in their tracks” to gain attention to their main message. Curious spectators were then directed to the beach front booth and display board. Here they were delivered messages about flavoured tobacco issues and teen use of products. People were then given the option to sign post cards that were created by the Flavour Gone Campaign, which ask Stephen Harper to ban flavoured tobacco products. At the end of the day Fresh Heir and their volunteers did one large “drop dead” on the corners of a busy Dover intersection. With this event there was a lot of positive feedback from spectators and it was deemed a success overall.

From May 25th to June 1st Fresh Heir hosted a creative visual campaign using spray painted plasic cups. The cups were placed in the holes of chain linked fences at the Caledonia Fair Grounds and Ball Park to spell out “Fight the Flavour”. This event focussed on the Flavour Gone Campaign, which represents the need for a flavoured tobacco ban across Ontario. After the week was over the cups were promptly removed and properly disposed of to prevent damage to the surrounding environment. The same event was done on a different chain linked fence at Golden Gardens Park in Norfolk this time from June 24th to June 30th. The same message was displayed for on lookers to read and consider. These events were well recieved and got media attention in both the Norfolk and Caledonia

Whats New With crave

cravethetruth — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 19:14:26 +0000

We are in the midst of planning an event for kick butts day 2009. It looks like it is going to be awesome. It will involve body bags and fake money. Stay tuned for how it all turns out. As well, we are getting prepared to climb the CN tower as a group on April 18th 2009. We are raising money for the world wild life fund. When we send out our emails online we are linking tobacco use and the environtment. We are asking people to donate us for each stair we climb. The CN tower is 1776 stairs high ! Therefore we are asking others to donate us for a dollar a stair. This is what our email says;

I’ve decided to help the World Wildlife Fund of Canada on behalf of Crave to fight environmental damage and climb the 1,776 steps of the CN Tower. However, I need your help to raise funds for WWF-Canada.

If anyone across central west wants to help out crave to meet our fundraising goal of $1776 please go to the link below .

http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=2107411

Hope everyone is doing great !

From, Chelsea and Mei. (Crave).

Y-ACT’s request to council gets approved!

yact — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:31:42 +0000

On March 3rd 3009, Y-ACT peer leader Matt Lee went to the Council meeting for the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. He brought with him a report for the Board of Health, asking that they support Youth Action Alliances by holding Prime Minister Stephen Harper liable to his election promise to regulate flavoured tobacco products.

The members of council asked many questions, showing their genuine interest in the topic. Y-ACT’s request was ultimately passed unanimously! On March 12, Council sent a letter to Mr. Harper, advising him that they had passed the motion to hold him to his promise.

After his appearance at the Council Meeting, Matt also interviewed with The KW RECORD and his story was printed. Here’s “Flavoured tobacco a sweet temptation”a link to the article:

This support from local media and the local council is a great success for Y-ACT and all the other YAAS!

REACTin’ in March

reactniagara — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:15:34 +0000

Over the past few months REACT has been working on various events and activities. On Friday March 6th, we are partnering with the YMCA and attending an event they are hosting Youth Gambling Awareness. The event is to show people the dangers of gambling, and REACT members will be there with a booth and a game that is helping educate youth on the dangers of tobacco products.

Another one of our events that everyone is excited about is the 6 new Pear Leaders we are hiring to be apart of our REACT team. They will be advocating for healthy eating and physical activity. REACT is moving on to be bigger and better; we are branching off and starting new groups and events about other subjects that concern youth.

The members of REACT feel that we should be able to have our own work room to put all our accessories for events, we have submitted a business case to see whether it will be possible. We may be looking for some tips and words of advice for CW YAAs that have attained their own room just as a heads up!

Our biggest event which is coming up fast is the Niagara Youth Tobacco Summit , everyone is working really hard on making it over the top. We will be inviting all high schools grant groups to attend the event. The theme of this summit is Organized Crime and the Tobacco Industry.

We look forward to sharing more with you soon!

January/Febuary 2009.

cravethetruth — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:32:03 +0000

For the past few months we have been working on various projects and activities. In January, CRAVE participated in National Non Smoking Week by setting up a display in the front entrance of the Halton Regional Administrative Center. This was an attempt to stop the lunchtime and after work foot traffic exiting and entering the building throughout the week. The display was used as a tactic to further promote cessation initiatives and encourage Halton Regional Employees to “butt out”. In February, CRAVE celebrated Valentine’s Day by sending out e-mails stating out key message: “Don’t let the Tobacco Industry take your breath away.” This month CRAVE decided on long terms goals for each month for the next year. Peer Leaders are also currently working on plans for The Kick Butt’s Day. We can’t wait to hear your plans at the next Central West meeting and see you then. J

Detox Keeping Busy!

detoxwdg — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 01:23:03 +0000

Since our latest event “The Fergus Devils Game” Detox has had a loss of 4 very special Detox members, Ryan Martin, Alayna Byron, Amber Woods, and Becky Branton. As a follow up we have hired 4 new amazing PL’s, Rosie Martin, Brooke Rogers, Brendan Daudlin and Brad Henderson, who we hope to see great things from.

Detox had a really great Christmas break with even a little bit of celebrating. We went to the Grotto for rock climbing, and to Turtle Jacks for appetizers. It was a great way to spend time with one another, and a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays. Recently we met up with SWAT for a Health and Safety Training & Team Building. We had a guest speaker arrive to teach us all about safety in a work place, and show us proper safety materials, and procedures.

As for teambuilding, our leaders prepared some fun activities for us to complete with one another. If you’re interested In the activities you can contact our face book account, or e-mail us at detox@wdghu.org. As a follow up to the team building we have became very connected with SWAT and hope to stay that way.

Recently we have received some bad news of our boss Jenni Jenkins leaving after March Break. We are going to miss her dearly, but we wish her best at her new job.

Here are some special shout outs to Jenni from the Mount Forest Crew.

Jamey Purdy- Jenni has been an amazing leader. She is very helpful and encouraging. She taught us lots of new things during her stay and im really going to miss her.

Ally Sage- I will miss Jenni greatly, and I’m really glad I was able to spend the time I had with her. She is an amazing boss, and makes everything enjoyable. I will miss her.

Nikkole Myers- Working for Jenni was a great experience. When you came to work you almost had to have a smile on your face or else Jenni would put one there. She has great charisma, and a wonderful sense of humour and I’m really going to miss it. It’s upsetting she’s leaving but I wish her the best of luck at her new job.

If any one else would like to add to this shout box please feel welcome at the face book account: Detox.

Written By: Nikkole Myers, Detox Peer Leader

A Bird, Dogs, REACT????

reactniagara — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:40:31 +0000

What do these three things have in common? REACT had events that involved a bird and some dogs….read on….

January 15 saw the launch of REACT’s film, “Word from the Bird” (that’s where the bird comes in!). “Word from the Bird” is a humourous film about the manipulative tactics the tobacco industry uses to hook youth. The launch was held in the atrium at Niagara Region Headquarters. Viewers were drawn to the area early where the film was to be launched by the sweet smell of popcorn. REACT had a popcorn machine on the spot and it proved to be a huge hit! We had attendance from many different departments such as Community Services, Corporate Services, and of course Public Health. To view this fantastic film click on this link, http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=pD7pHC0FqH8.

The captivated crowd taking in "Word from the Bird"

Here is where the dogs come in….

On January 25 REACT set up a table at the IceDogs game (our local OHL team). Kids attending the game were immediately drawn to the REACT table where they could spin a wheel and win great prizes after answering a tobacco-related question. The questions focused on tobacco-free sports and why it is important to Play Live Be Tobacco Free. Not only did participants have some great knowledge on tobacco issues but they had some killer team spirit! GO DOGS GO!

SWAT Presents to Cub Scouts

swatwdg — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 23:05:14 +0000

Three members of SWAT met with a local group of Cub Scouts to educate them about the Tobacco Industry and the harmful effects of TIP’s in Fall 2008. See photos below for some of the children’s artistic interpretations of the health effects of TIP’s…

“I like sniffing butts, not eating them” – Guelph dog

swatwdg — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:55:41 +0000

SWAT completed one of its goals for 2008 when we finished the last of four butt-litter clean ups in well known Guelph parks. Pick ups at Riverside Park and Marrianes Park were particularly successful, with us collecting tons of cigarette butts and giving out SWAG to park goers, and educating a dog-walker or two about the dangers of butt litter. We received a lot of media for out pick ups including radio, newspapers and we were even interviewed by Rogers TV!

We had tons of support, even from our four legged friends, check out the photos!

Edu-Chalking (Education Through Chalking)

swatwdg — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:39:59 +0000

At a local high school SWAT organized a chalking event to raise awareness among teenagers about the dangers of tobacco industry products. Even though we had to wash away our artwork the next day, the messages reached almost all of the students, teachers, and staff at the school, as well the parents who were there that evening for the parent-teacher interview night. Check out the photos to see some of our artwork!