Victoria, December 5, 2009 – A comprehensive suite of tools is now available to help landlords and strata corporations create more smoke-free accommodations for British Columbians in apartments and condos, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon announced today.

“Second-hand smoke migrating between units in apartments and condos is a huge problem for many British Columbians,” said Bobbe Wood, President & CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. & Yukon and Chair Elect for the BC Healthy Living Alliance.  “And that’s why we are so pleased to announce the launch of this Initiative, which is dedicated to increasing the number of homes where people aren’t exposed to a hazardous substance like second-hand smoke on a regular basis.”

The Foundation unveiled its Smoke-Free Housing in Multi-Unit Dwellings Initiative, funded through the BC Healthy Living Alliance and supported by ActNow BC. The Initiative features a new website, the first of its kind in Canada, to provide legal information and a how-to guide to convert apartments and condos to smoke-free status. It also provides residents of apartments and condos with concrete steps on how to deal with second-hand smoke infiltrating their homes. Other components include: a series of workshops to be conducted in each health authority in the province to educate the multi-housing sector on the benefits of going smoke-free; a pilot project to identify best practices as participants go through the smoke-free transition process; and a Directory of smoke-free residential buildings across BC.

“We know second-hand smoke affects non-smokers, and are pleased to support the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Smoke-Free Housing in Multi-Unit Dwellings initiative, to help reduce second-hand smoke in homes and encourage owners to offer more options for British Columbians to lead smoke-free, healthier lives," said Mary Polak, Minister of Healthy Living and Sport.

“We get calls on a regular basis from concerned British Columbians who are desperate for smoke-free homes,” said Wood. “This includes seniors with chronic diseases, new mothers fearful about their newborns breathing a substance that increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and parents whose children have asthma.”

 “We want landlords to know that it’s legal to offer smoke-free units, that it’s good for business, and that there is strong market demand for smoke-free living in BC. We’re giving tools to landlords to make this happen.”

“Renters are increasingly looking for smoke-free properties to call home,” said Al Kemp, CEO of Rental Owners and Managers Society of BC (ROMS BC). “This project gives landlords all the information they need to convert their buildings to attract non-smokers, and reduces their maintenance costs and fire risks as an added bonus.  ROMS BC was pleased to participate in this project.”

The Smoke-Free Housing in Multi-Unit Dwellings is an initiative of the BC Healthy Living Alliance, made possible through a one-time grant of $25 million from the B.C. Government. The initiative is one of five that make up the Tobacco Reduction Strategy, led by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon, the BC Lung Association and the Canadian Cancer Society, and supported by ActNow BC.

For more information visit the new website at www.smokefreehousingbc.ca