News

SIMCOE, OCTBOER 18, 2012 – The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit will be hosting a family movie night at Lynndale Heights Public School in Simcoe on October 26 to raise awareness about the impact of smoking in youth-rated movies.

The free event will feature a variety of Scottish-themed kid’s games beginning at 6:30 p.m., followed by a screening of Pixar’s latest box office hit Brave at 7:15 p.m. Free popcorn and prizes will also be handed out at the event.

Weaved throughout the evening will be some education about the impact that smoking in movies has on impressionable young minds.

“Seeing actors and characters smoke in movies has been shown to really influence young people, and make them more likely to start smoking,” said Kinsey Elliot, a member with H.E.A.T., the Health Unit’s youth volunteer program.

Last year, 85 per cent of movies featuring tobacco were assigned a child or teen rating (G, PG, 14A) by the Ontario Film Review Board. The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit, along with other health agencies including the World Health Organization, Canadian Cancer Society, U.S. Surgeon General, and the Heart & Stroke Foundation, would like to see all new movies rated for children and teens be smoke-free.

Parents at the movie night will be given the opportunity to sign a petition to show their support for keeping tobacco out of all future youth-rated movies.

“We want to share that message with parents, but also provide them with a fun evening they can spend together as a family,” added Elliot.

Members of H.E.A.T. are encouraging more young people and their parents to learn about the issue of smoking in the movies and to show their support for removing tobacco from youth-rated films by visiting www.smokefreemovies.ca.

-30-
Media contact:
Josh Daley
Health Promoter
Healthy Environment Team
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit
Ext. 3256 at either 519-426-6170 or 905-318-6623
[email protected]