Free movie, barbecue highlight June 4 smoke-free event

As part of World No Tobacco Day 2014, May 31, the Sudbury and District Health Unit will be hosting an outdoor smoke-free movie event, Stomp Movie style.

The event will be held June 4 from 5-11:30 p.m. at the Grace Hartman Amphitheatre, near the shores of Lake Ramsey in Bell Park. The event includes a barbecue, a free concert and a free outdoor Stomp Movie.

This event is presented in conjunction with the North East Tobacco Control Area Network Northern Outdoor Movie Tour (NE TCAN). Using a Youth Engagement framework, each NE TCAN participating health unit is participating by hosting a similar event in their respective community.

“The purpose of this event is to raise awareness about how the tobacco industry discreetly markets their product to unaware people; especially children and youth who might be influenced to begin smoking because they see their favorite 'cool' actor smoking,” said Owen Krystia, a student at St. Charles College.

During the event, local youth will be raising awareness about the tobacco industry and how it utilizes movies to target youth. In 2010, an estimated 130,000 Canadians aged 15-19 became addicted to tobacco industry products due to exposure to on-screen smoking, of which 43,000 will eventually die of tobacco-caused diseases.

Weather permitting, the outdoor movie night will feature "Jurassic Park" and begins at sun set.

If you like to know more about the effects of on-screen smoking, visit www.smokefreemovies.ca or www.sdhu.com.