Post by Rick (Admin) on Jun 21, 2013 18:25:06 GMT -5
Four local restaurants move ahead with smoke-free patios
Four local restaurants have moved ahead and declared their outdoor patios smoke-free.
Casey's Grill Bar, Average Joe's, Boston Pizza and East Side Mario's have taken it upon themselves to make the change despite there being no bylaw forcing them to do so.
Mike Gibb, owner of Boston Pizza said teaming up with three other restaurants made it very easy to go smoke-free.
“We've been in discussions for a year, but I wasn't going to do it on my own. However, working together makes it easier.”
Dave Dugas of East Side Mario's agrees.
He said staff have observed families who wanted to sit and eat on the outdoor patio get up and walk inside because people were smoking and they didn't want their children to be around that.
Dugas said before the restaurant decided to go totally smoke-free, East Side Mario's banned smoking on its outdoor patio during meal times from noon to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
A proposed amendment to the city's smoke-free bylaw to include patios is still under review.
The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit and the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce are working together and are expected to return to council later this year with recommendations regarding a proposed smoking ban for outdoor patios.
Last month, city politicians voted down new strict smoking regulations to ban smoking at city parks, beaches, playgrounds, sports fields and trails.
Coun. Daryl Vaillancourt, who has championed for smoke-free places, said he was disappointed and he felt defeated when his colleagues changed their mind at the 11th hour.
“We knew this issue would be controversial, a tough topic to talk about,” he said. “I was ready to give up.”
Because the bylaw was voted down council can't take another look at it until next year.
“These are some high profile restaurants and I don't think these business people would have done this if it would affect their bottom line.”
Vaillancourt and Mayor Al McDonald went out and spoke with individual restaurant owners over the last few months.
Dr. Jim Chirico, the city's medical officer of health, said he too was disappointed with the vote.
He said when the private sector takes the initiative to protect the public it sends a strong message.
“I truly believe council will re-evaluate and come to a different decision.”
Chirico said he would like to see the bylaw only permit people to smoke in their own personal space.
“Smokers have the right to smoke, but they don't have the right to infringe on the health of others.”
Heritage North Bay declared the entire park smoke-free from the Discovery North Bay Museum to the Waterfront Park on Memorial Drive including the Heritage Railway and Carousel.
www.nugget.ca/2013/06/21/four-local-restaurants-move-ahead-with-smoke-free-patios
Four local restaurants have moved ahead and declared their outdoor patios smoke-free.
Casey's Grill Bar, Average Joe's, Boston Pizza and East Side Mario's have taken it upon themselves to make the change despite there being no bylaw forcing them to do so.
Mike Gibb, owner of Boston Pizza said teaming up with three other restaurants made it very easy to go smoke-free.
“We've been in discussions for a year, but I wasn't going to do it on my own. However, working together makes it easier.”
Dave Dugas of East Side Mario's agrees.
He said staff have observed families who wanted to sit and eat on the outdoor patio get up and walk inside because people were smoking and they didn't want their children to be around that.
Dugas said before the restaurant decided to go totally smoke-free, East Side Mario's banned smoking on its outdoor patio during meal times from noon to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
A proposed amendment to the city's smoke-free bylaw to include patios is still under review.
The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit and the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce are working together and are expected to return to council later this year with recommendations regarding a proposed smoking ban for outdoor patios.
Last month, city politicians voted down new strict smoking regulations to ban smoking at city parks, beaches, playgrounds, sports fields and trails.
Coun. Daryl Vaillancourt, who has championed for smoke-free places, said he was disappointed and he felt defeated when his colleagues changed their mind at the 11th hour.
“We knew this issue would be controversial, a tough topic to talk about,” he said. “I was ready to give up.”
Because the bylaw was voted down council can't take another look at it until next year.
“These are some high profile restaurants and I don't think these business people would have done this if it would affect their bottom line.”
Vaillancourt and Mayor Al McDonald went out and spoke with individual restaurant owners over the last few months.
Dr. Jim Chirico, the city's medical officer of health, said he too was disappointed with the vote.
He said when the private sector takes the initiative to protect the public it sends a strong message.
“I truly believe council will re-evaluate and come to a different decision.”
Chirico said he would like to see the bylaw only permit people to smoke in their own personal space.
“Smokers have the right to smoke, but they don't have the right to infringe on the health of others.”
Heritage North Bay declared the entire park smoke-free from the Discovery North Bay Museum to the Waterfront Park on Memorial Drive including the Heritage Railway and Carousel.
www.nugget.ca/2013/06/21/four-local-restaurants-move-ahead-with-smoke-free-patios