YEAR TWO OF YOUNG SPIRITS: PROUD TO BE TOBACCO FREE

Health Minister John Nilson is once again inviting Saskatchewan youth in grades 5 to 9 to celebrate a tobacco-free lifestyle with Young Spirits: Proud to be Tobacco Free.

A Saskatchewan Health partnership with Health Canada, Young Spirits is a three-year initiative directed at youth in community and Northern schools. It encourages youth to think about the benefits of choosing a tobacco-free lifestyle by doing an anti-tobacco project at home, at school, or in their community. Everyone who completes a project receives a unique, portable radio for their efforts.

"Smoking rates among our youth continue to be too high," Nilson said. "The Young Spirits initiative empowers youth to think about the negative aspects of smoking and the positive benefits of not starting to smoke and quitting smoking. It also rewards them for taking this one step further by doing a special project that makes a healthy difference in their own lives and the lives of others."

Approximately 400 youth from across the province participated in year one of the campaign. The projects ranged from solo undertakings such as keeping a journal and doing a peer survey, to community actions such as lobbying municipal officials for a smoke-free bylaw.

Young Spirit packages are currently being delivered to community and Northern schools. They include teacher resources that complement the health curriculum for grades 5 to 9, and a student activity sheet with suggested projects.

The Young Spirits campaign also includes radio commercials produced by Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation. The radio spots support the empowering message of choosing to be tobacco-free, and will be aired later on in the 2003-04 school year.

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For More Information, Contact:

Mark Rathwell Health Regina Phone: (306)787-4083