The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
A teen smoking prevention project designed to help Manitoba teens make informed decisions on tobacco use has been announced. The Review and Rate initiative was unveiled by Healthy Living Minister Jim Rondeau and Education, Citizenship and Youth Minister Peter Bjornson. "We are partnering with Education, Citizenship and Youth to develop new programs that will help educate our young people about smoking and its effects on their health," said Rondeau. "Review and Rate is an exciting new initiative that will give our youth a say in the province's tobacco control strategies." "The Review and Rate program has the potential to reach 119,000 students in Grade 6 to Senior 4 with a powerful anti-tobacco message," said Bjornson. "This is an excellent opportunity for Manitoba youth to help us determine how to most effectively communicate with their peers about the negative effects of tobacco use." Review and Rate originates from a similar program originally developed in British Columbia. Students will view 12 anti-smoking television ads selected by youth focus groups in Manitoba. The focus groups selected the ads as the most effective in conveying the consequences of tobacco use. Through a classroom exercise, Manitoba youth will discuss the material and vote on what they believe to be the best ad, which will then be aired on television. Students participating in the program will be eligible to win a $25 gift certificate to apply to the purchase of books, CDs or DVDs. Schools will receive video tapes, facilitator guides for teachers and ballots for students to use in rating the commercials. Distribution of these materials will take place in September. Program effectiveness will be measured through an evaluation survey included with all packages. This survey will measure how teachers view the resource and whether they believe the content of the program can affect a young persons' decision to use tobacco or quit smoking. "The introduction of this program coincides with the implementation of the provincewide smoking ban," said Rondeau. "Both will have an effect on youth by protecting them from environmental tobacco smoke and educating them about the effect of smoking on their health." This announcement supports the comprehensive tobacco strategy announced by the Manitoba government in January of 2002.
