Under the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act all public and private kindergarten to Grade 12 schools in BC are required to be tobacco and vapour free.
This means all tobacco and vapour products, are not allowed on school property at any time, even when school is not in session.
Tobacco and vapour free schools support families to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle and help schools take a health-promoting approach to tobacco and vapour reduction.
Resources for Schools
- Resources to support Tobacco & Vapour Education: This resource is intended to support educators to confidently & effectively address youth smoking and vaping. It provides tips, tools, strategies, lesson plans and activities to assist educators in starting and continuing conversations with students to support youth in making informed decisions about their health in relation to commercial tobacco and vapour products.
- Supports and Resources to Reduce or Quit Nicotine: A youth reviewed & focused document with supports and resources available for reducing or quitting nicotine. This can be used by teachers, counsellors, public health nurses or anyone wishing to direct youth to free, confidential supports in their nicotine reduction, quit and wellness journey. This can be printed directly to allow posting as appropriate.
- Alternative to Suspension for Tobacco & Vapour Use: This resource is intended to support schools in responding to student vaping and tobacco use through a restorative, education‑based approach. It provides practical guidance, strategies, and tools to help administrators, teachers, and school staff implement alternatives to suspension that focus on prevention, skill‑building, and meaningful student engagement. Centered on the Healthy Futures Alternative‑to‑Suspension program developed by the Stanford REACH Lab, this resource highlights key components and considerations to support consistent, school‑wide implementation. It can be used to strengthen responses to vaping and tobacco use while supporting students to stay connected, reflect on their choices, and access supports to make informed decisions about their health.
Contact tobaccoandvapour@islandhealth.ca for any resource related inquiries.
Healthy Schools
Healthy Schools BC works with partners from the health and education sectors, and with those from the broader community, to support students to develop healthy habits that will last a lifetime.
A healthy school is a place where students have many opportunities – in the classroom, and in every aspect of their school experience – to foster their healthy physical, mental, social and intellectual development.
Visit our Healthy Schools team webpage has additional resources for schools.
Ceremonial use of tobacco
The ceremonial use of tobacco is exempted from the ban on tobacco use in schools if the ceremonial use is approved by the school board and it is performed in relation to a traditional indigenous activity.