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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-11-18, Page 22con, • Entertainment • Feature •Religion •Family .More SECTION utting out at Bluewater BY LOU -ANN DE BRUYN If you're a young offender and have been sentenced to time at Bluewater Cen- tre for Young Offenders, you won't be able to indulge in one of life's pleasures ... smoking. As of August 17, 1987, a new smoking policy came into effect for all young of- fenders units and open custody residences in Ontario operated by the Ministry of Correctional Services. The policy now designates these institutions as non-smoking for the residents. This comes in response to the ministry's recognizing the dangers of second hand smoke to non-smokers. Prior to the implementation of the new smoking policy initiated August 17, each resident of Bluewater Centre for Young Offenders was able, at one point, to pur- chase up to seven packages of cigarettes per week. However, according to the new policy, no residents are allowed to smoke while in the confines of the institution. In spite of the no -smoking policy, residents were not asked to quit "cold urkey." "We got word that the ministry was contemplating a no -smoking policy in late February of 1987," Carl DeGrandis, superintendent at Bluewater Centre, said. "From then on, we began restricting the level of upper purchases of cigaret- tes. Originally, all residents were able to buy cigarettes out of the canteen. Seven packs a week was the upper limit. But, at the end of February we began to cut this back," he added. Residents were cut back from seven packages of cigarettes each week, to six then five, and so on. By June 1, 1987, residents were able to purchase only two packages of cigarettesper week and by July 1, they were down to one package each week. August 16 was the last day residents at Bluewater Centre were able to smoke in the institution. "All new residents who came from other institutions did not find our policy hard to live by since all institutions were implementing the same no -smoking policy at the same time ... perhaps in a different method but implementing nonetheless," DeGrandis said. Although there is a total prohibition of smoking for residents, DeGrandis does admit that some residents do try to sneak a cigarette occasionally. "Sure, they try to sneak a cigarette or cajole a visitor but we try not to make it the biggest deal in the world. It's not the same as being caught doing something worse," he said. "W. try and minimize administrating a response but there is a response and sanction." • While the no -smoking policy affects on- ly residents of institutions operated by the Ministry of Correctional Services, staff at Bluewater Centre have been in- directly affected by the implementation of the policy at the local correctional centre: A POLICY AFFECTS STAFF The new smoking policy restricts ministry staff who smoke to specific areas ... namely, a smoking lounge. However, with the on-going construc- tion process at .Bluewater Centre, staff members have been without a lounge in the building for a few months. A tem- porary lounge, situated in a mobile trailer, has been deemed as no -smoking. "The lounge we (staff, both smokers and non-smokers) were using was a single room and the problem was people were going in on their breaks and smok- ing their brains out. There was a cons- tant yellw haze in the room. We were faced with people who are non-smokers who literally were unable to go into the lounge because they were afraid to breathe the air," DeGrandis, who is a non-smoker, said. The staff lounge was then taken away by construction at the Centre. At this point, staff breaks were moved to a rented trailer which, because of fire regulations, prohibited smoking. "In effect, staff could no longer smoke on the premises of Bluewater Centre," DeGrandis said. However, this will change when the new staff lounges are completed later this month. There will be a smoking lounge as well as a non-smoking lounge. DeGrandis, who said between 60 and 65 per cent of Bluewater Centre's staff smoke, noted the inability to smoke while With the introduction August 17 of a new no -smoking policy for residents of institutions operated by the Ministry of Correctional Services, young offenders at Bluewater Centre are no longer able to enjoy the `pleasure' of smoking a cigarette. While staff are presently excluded from this policy, there is a chance all smoking could be banned at the correctional centre in the future. at work has affected some people. "It has had some effect. Some people are having a very difficult time. This may or not be a revelation to them as to how hooked they are on a product that does them no good. The inability to have a cigarette on their break means some of them are getting withdrawal symptoms. Smoking policy has yet to reform habits of residents "Mark" likes to smoke. He lives to open a fresh pack of cigarettes each day, anticipating the smell of a just -lit cigarette. He spends a lot of time'perfec- ting his talent at blowing smoke rings. His attachment to smoking is so great he has not even thought about what a day would be like without a cigarette. But, that day did come for "Mark" and it's a day he will not likely forget. August 17, 1987. It was the day he was made to stop smoking. "Mark" is not a real person but for many residents of Bluewater Centre for Young Offenders the similiarities bet- ween Mark and themselves do exist. Ac- cording to Carl DeGrandis, superinten- dent of Bluewater Centre, the majority of residents at the correctional institution smoke. However, with the Ministry of Correctional Services new no -smoking policy for residents of its institutions, no longer can they practise their daily habit. For David (not his real name), a resi- dent of Bluewater Centre, the ministry's policy made him go from one package of cigarettes each day to none while he is in the institution. "I used to smoke one pack a day for the last three years. When I came here (Bluewater Centre) in April they were letting residents have only three packs each week (down from seven each week prior to February)," he said. These were purchased from the Centre's canteen and the residents were allowed to hold onto their own cigarettes. This amount was slowly cut back by Centre administration until cigarettes were being handed out two at breakfast, two at lunch, two at dinner and two at night snack by staff members. Residents were allowed their last cigarette at Bluewater Centre August 16. "For the first month (following the im- plementation of the no -smoking policy), they gave us mints after our meals when we would usually have had our cigaret- tes," David said. David said being not being allowed to smoke upset a lot of the residents. "There were a lot of us that were pret- ty upset for the first couple of days. It was hard for the first month but after one month, month and one-half you might as well quit because you can't smoke anyways," he said. Although David and the other young men at the Centre realize the no -smoking for residents policy was implemented by the ministry and not the local institution, he stills feels they should be allowed to smoke. "I think we should be allowed to smoke. We're so used to it and we're old enough. They shouldn't cut us off cold turkey," he said. Later, he admitted he did not think smoking would be re- instated at the Centre. David did admit that some residents have tried sneaking a cigarette while at the Centre. "It's hard but there are lots of smokes around here. You could buy some from other people. We're not supposed to and we get in trouble for that all the time." It isn't just the fact that residents are not allowed to smoke at Bluewater Cen- tre that bothers David and many of the other boys, it's the fact that the staff are able to continuing smoking which bothers them just as much, if not more. "The staff still smokes. It bothers me to a certain extent but I.can't do anything about it. You can smell the cigarette smoke on staff when they come back from break and it drives you up the walls," he said. David, who has reached the gold bar level at the Centre and is allowed to go home every three weeks on temporary weekend release, has not quit smoking in spite of not being able to smoke at the Centre. "I smoke when I go home on passes. I smoke more when I'm home on passes then I did before. But, it doesn't help me get through the week," he said. This should be something they come to grips with purely for a health stand- point," DeGrandis said. Once the lounges are complete, staff will be able to smoke during their breaks ... two breaks on an eight hour shift, and three breaks on a 12 hour shift. Staff will not be able to smoke in any place which residents occupy including private offices and group offices. "It includes every place except the one designated area," DeGrandis said. IN THE FUTURE While smoking by staff will be allowed at Bluewater Centre at restricted times and in restricted places, DeGrandis said this is only a short term solution. DeGrandis noted the no -smoking policy implemented by the Ministry of Correc- tional Services is only a minimum policy. It describes the minimum rules the in- stitution must adhere to, he said. And, although staff are allowed to smoke at the institution, DeGrandis said this could change in the future. "Now, we will let staff smoke in a lounge but, in my own mind, I'm still in a quandry (as to whether smoking by staff will always be allowed at the institution). My personal preference would be to have a policy that made this institution completely smoke free. "I have to consider my personal preference within what I can do and should do professionally," DeGrandis said. He went on to say, "As employers,.we have certain rights to insist that people don't do deliberate things to compromise there health." It is essential that both the employer and employee maintain their health so ef- fective working is possible. "If employees are deliberately injuring their health and health problems come as a result of deliberate action, then this is an issue to address," DeGrandis said. If the local situation requires an addi- tion to the smoking policy in the future, for example no staff smoking, DeGrandis feels approval for such an action would be possible. This is not to say such an action will happen. However, while. staff members who smoke can look forward to having their smoking privileges re- instated within the next few weeks, they can also be thinking of the possibility of losing this privilege some day in the future. Ho "Horticulture" science and ar vegetables and orn member of one of tario you will rec Home Landsca Vegetable and He Shrubs, FIower Arr Fruit, House Plants and Disease Control topics as requested. Members of Hort Ontario are dedicate Horticulture in their participation and ass ticultural Societies dedicated says Webster, "is the of growing fruits, amental plants." As a over 260 societies in On- eive information on: ping, Lawn Care, Her Gardens, Trees and anging, Tree and Bush Water Gardens, Pest , and numerous other cultural Societies in d to the promotion of communities. Your istance are welcome in: regular meetings of the society; com- munity beautification; conservation pro- jects; clean-up, plant -up campaigns; tree plantings; flower and vegetable shows; encouraging young gardeners; plant sales; therapeutic horticulture; district and provincial conventions; social func- tions which include informal panels, ex- citing.nnd interesting bus trips to Ontario's many beauty spots, parks, nurseries and outstanding horticultural centres such as the Royal Botanical Gardens, etc. Your local society sponsors many fine speakers and illustrated lectures which are not only helpful but inspirational in assisting you to make the best of your "special corner" of our beautiful province. You will enjoy the opportunity to obtain garden information bulletins, and other vital assistance with your garden; attend garden courses, compete in flower and vegetable shows; help beautify your com- munity and interest youth and others in the study of Horticulture. Goderich Hor- ticultural Society is an organization of men and women working together with God (Nature, if you please) to make our world a more beautiful place. Can you think of any other organization that offers so much for so little? Member- ship is only $2.00 a year. However, without YOUR support and membership our local society is now in jeopardy of having to be discontinued in 1988. This society, like any other cannot sur- vive without members. If after consider- ing the foregoing merits of such an organization you feel that a local Hor- ticultural Society is of service to the town and community, please signify your sup- port by attending the next monthly meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 18 in the MacKay Centre. (See the Bulletin Board for details of this meeting).