The Town of Sylvan Lake has expanded its Smoke Free Bylaw. In recent months, the Town of Sylvan Lake has experienced an increase in public requests for stricter smoking regulations within the community. On May 28th, Town Council passed an amended Smoke Free Bylaw with new smoking restrictions. Highlights of these new restrictions include:

• A revised definition of ‘Smoke’ or ‘Smoking’ to include:
To inhale, to exhale, burn, or have control of a lighted cigarette, lighted cigar, lighted pipe, a hookah, and electronic cigarette or vape, or other lighted smoking implement designed to burn or heat tobacco, cannabis, or any other weed or substance for the purpose of inhaling or tasting of its smoke or emissions.

• Smoking of any of the above is restricted within a:
Public park or playground property, school property, child care facility property, a playground, a sports or playing field, a skate park or bike park, an outdoor theatre, an outdoor pool or splash pad, and a municipal facility that is frequented by children.

• The distance allowed for smoking from an entrance or exit has increased from 3 metres to 5 metres.

Town staff will now set to work on signage to communicate the Town’s new smoking restrictions, which will be in place for the summer. Enforcement of the bylaw changes will take more of an educational approach until signage is in place.

A new Cannabis Consumption Bylaw is expected to come forward to Council on June 11th, which is separate from the Smoke Free Bylaw, and will regulate public consumption of non-medical cannabis once the federal government legalizes the substance later this summer.

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