A bunch of involved dad and mom is placing stress on a Scarborough highschool and the Toronto District College Board to cease college students from vaping within the faculty’s toilet.

The group has despatched a letter to principal Leslie Ann Klinger of Sir Oliver Mowat Collegiate Institute asking her for “proposed options as quickly as attainable.” Copied on the letter was the superintendent of the TDSB, in addition to the town councillor and the MPP for Scarborough-Rouge Park the place the varsity is positioned.

“A lot of our little children have instructed us that use of the washrooms is intimidating, and that they are going to select to go offsite when essential,” the letter reads.

“Preventative measures coupled with strict enforcement of those insurance policies is crucial.”

The letter suggests efficient smoke detectors would crack down on toilet vaping.

However one of many dad and mom, Chris Haslett, is aware of the issue would not begin and finish at Mowat.

“My brother is in Ottawa and his son is experiencing it in highschool. We’ve pals who’re experiencing it right here in Toronto … It is also occurring in Burlington,” stated Haslett.

Haslett says the concept for the letter happened when the daughter of a fellow Mowat father or mother stated she had made a number of complaints to the varsity however felt like nothing was being achieved about it.

“The congregation of teams of individuals in these washrooms is making it intimidating for teenagers at an age the place they’re already scared about going to the washroom in entrance of different folks,” Haslett instructed CBC Toronto.

A Sept. 21 response from Mowat principal Leslie Ann Klinger says the varsity is responding with a lot of measures largely targeted on toilet checks and scholar messaging, similar to management group bulletins and poster campaigns in regards to the well being results of vaping.

Vaping banned on faculty property, TDSB says

A consultant from the TDSB additionally says vaping shouldn’t be permitted anyplace on faculty property and can lead to suspensions.

However Haslett says he feels extra must be achieved.

“We used to smoke on planes, libraries, Buyers Drug Mart. We do not anymore. Training is one cause, legal guidelines are one other and delicate smoke detectors like these on planes are a few of the methods this has been combatted,” Haslett wrote in a Fb submit.

Klinger stated in her response the varsity can’t set up non-board cameras or smoke detectors.

“I feel they’re doing what they will with what little assets they’ve,” Haslett stated.

He says the dad and mom need extra motion from greater ranges, which is why they despatched the letter to the following ranges of presidency.

CBC Toronto reached out to Coun. Jennifer McKelvie and MPP Vijay Thanigasalam, who each symbolize Scarborough-Rouge Park, however didn’t obtain a response from both.

E-cigarettes containing nicotine have been authorized in Canada for the reason that passage of Invoice S-5 in Could, 2018.

David Hammond, a professor of public well being on the College of Waterloo, says vaping shouldn’t be as dangerous as smoking cigarettes, however that does not imply it is a wholesome various.

“Let’s be clear — vaping can be dangerous for younger folks,” stated Hammond, who makes a speciality of continual illness prevention with a concentrate on using tobacco and vaping merchandise.

Nevertheless, even with youth smoking at an all-time low, he says, there was a big improve within the variety of teenagers who vape.

“We’ve about one per cent of highschool college students who smoke cigarettes,” stated Hammond.

“There’s about 15 per cent that vape.”

Jessica Mudry, a professor at Toronto Metropolitan College who makes a speciality of well being communication and well being coverage, says the issue is the messaging round vaping.

“Vaping is claimed to be the appropriate, each socially and politically, choice to the consumption of nicotine.”

She says the latest ubiquity of vape merchandise and the idea that vaping is a more healthy choice has made folks suppose it is okay.

“It is at each faculty,” Mudry stated. “That is simply the place folks go to vape — the lavatory.”

However, Mudry says regardless of vaping’s prevalence amongst teenagers, it’s nonetheless not allowed in any public place and faculties ought to deal with it the identical as cigarette smoking.

“We have stopped smoking in public locations for a cause and we must always be sure that vaping is afforded that very same kind of constriction.”

Children ‘holding it in all day’

Hammond additionally suggests a number of issues might be achieved to make it more durable for teenagers to get their arms on vape merchandise.

“Gross sales of all e-cigarettes [and tobacco products] might be restricted to adult-only shops, as is the case for hashish merchandise,” he stated.

He additionally suggests governments may think about limiting a few of the flavours, similar to sweet, which might be geared toward younger folks.

In the meantime, Haslett hopes one thing could be achieved instantly so college students do not need to go off-site to make use of the lavatory.

“I do know some folks whose children are holding it in all day.”