Smoking huts gone, bike shelters in

Smoking huts gone, bike shelters in

Smoking huts gone, bike shelters in

As the base and its employees prepare for the April 1 Base Standing Order Smoking Policy to take effect, which directs smokers to smoke only in designated smoking areas, attention is now being turned towards the smoking sites situated around the base.

With healthy lifestyle now a corporate philosophy, what was once a smoker’s refuge from the elements is now a dry place to house bicycles. 

Taking the lead to transform the huts is Base Chief Petty Officer, CPO1 Shawn Taylor. Upon the suggestion from CPO2 Sean MacUisdin, he is re-purposing these structures in order to accommodate the expanding cyclist population.

“It just made sense to re-use already existing structures for bicycle racks, which we don’t have enough of anyways,” he says.

The first site to transform is the shelter adjacent to Nelles Block. At least six more shelters are slated to transform. 

                                
CPO1 Taylor’s project comes on the heels of a change to the base smoking policy, which previously had not been changed in the Base Standing Order since 1989.

“The existing policies that were in place then no longer exist,” says CPO1 Taylor. “So I looked at what the rest of the country was doing with smoking policies, what other bases were doing, and what we’re doing locally in terms of municipality rules. After talking with the Base Commander and senior council, we have changed to full compliance with the national law and regional bylaws.”

Four teams scoured the base to pinpoint all the smoking locations. More than 450 smoking sites were found, with another 300 potentially being used by smokers.

After considering the latest updates on laws, and recommendations from Health Canada, CPO1 Taylor and his staff put together the new smoking policy, which mirrors the new municipal bylaw. New smoking sites, far fewer than before, have been established with special signage that ensures a smoker’s habit takes place far from non-smokers.

To further safeguard medical buildings from second hand smoke, the base went a step further in its policy.

“With the agreement of senior council, and similar to what Island Health is doing, we’ve decided to implement a 25 meter zone around all health facilities, whether medical or dental, and all of our physical fitness facilities.”

The new policy ensures employees are protected from second hand smoke, and comes with the added benefit of supporting bicycle commuters.

“We have a large number of members and staff who are cyclists, and they have always been patient. This is a win for them as well,” says CPO1 Taylor.

 

Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer

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