With the annual Award for Excellence in Health Promotion established in 2007, the SHCHC is proud to honour individuals whose activities and initiatives have contributed to improving the health and wellness of our community. These unsung heroes deserve our recognition for their contributions to building healthy Sandy Hill and Ottawa East communities through activities such as health education, policy initiatives or increased public awareness around health issues, and who demonstrated leadership and collaborated with others to promote health and wellness in the community.

This year, the award was presented at the Annual General Meeting on June 27th, to the Conservation Co-operative Homes Board of Directors and the Second-Hand Smoke Committee, in recognition of their leadership role for taking the necessary steps and action to ban smoking everywhere inside the co-operative homes property located at 140 Mann Avenue (Ottawa), and on the balconies.

Government and restaurants have made buildings smoke-free in order to protect people’s health. However, until 2012, no housing co-operative in Canada had a 100% smoke-free policy.

In 2009, a group of members in the Conservation Co-op formed a committee, with the sanction of the Board of Directors, to study ways to reduce second-hand smoke exposure. Like any multi-unit dwelling, air and hence smoke travels freely throughout the building, aided by ventilation systems, electrical outlets and, in summer time, open windows. Co-operatives are run democratically by the members, as mandated by the Co-operative Corporations Act. Therefore, taking action required a group effort.

Over a 3-year period, the Second-Hand Smoke Committee conducted surveys, held open meetings, organized information evenings, promoted smoking cessation programs and drafted a by-law proposing a complete ban on smoking inside or outside. The Board put the motion for a vote to the general membership, and it passed with 73% support in July 2012.

Since the by-law came in effect, several members have quit smoking, and others now smoke outside and off the property. The work accomplished so far will benefit the current residents, as well as the generations to come.