Whistler’s Answers: September 6, 1985Whistler’s Answers: September 6, 1985
In the 1980s the Whistler Question began posing a question to three to six people and publishing their responses under “Whistler’s Answers” (not to be confused with the Whistler Answer). Each week, we’ll be sharing one question and the answers given back in 1985. Please note, all names/answers/occupations/neighbourhoods represent information given to the Question at the time of publishing and do not necessarily reflect the person today.
Some context for this week’s question: Smoking bans were not introduced in some municipalities in BC until the late 1980s and 1990s and provincially in the early 2000s. Some restaurants, however, began introducing non-smoking sections before any bans were put in effect. In June 1985, council considered a no-smoking bylaw after a letter from the Coast-Garibaldi Health Unit suggested a bylaw to increase the number of smoke-free areas in the community. The matter was then passed on to the Chamber of Commerce and the Whistler Resort Association for comment and members of the community were consulted. Some members of council supported the idea, but not everyone in Whistler was on board.
Question: What do you think of the proposed anti-smoking bylaw in Whistler?
Julian Ventuera – Accounting – Umberto’s – Vancouver
I don’t think that you should ban cigarettes in restaurants. In San Francisco, in offices and restaurants, they’ve completely banned smoking. But I think people should be able to smoke if they have an area set aside for them. There should be sections reserved for them in restaurants. I don’t smoke.
Vance Hall – Unemployed – Whistler
There definitely should be a non-smoking bylaw. I’m a non-smoker. I would like to see even just a small area set aside in restaurants for non-smokers. Unfortunately, cigarettes really turn my appetite off.
Kerri Bradford – Mother – Vancouver
I would support it even though I’m a smoker. There should be smoking and non-smoking sections in restaurants. There should be smoking in grocery stores, either. There’s nothing worse than having people smoking around food.