Friday September 5, 2014 – 1pm
Posted Sep 5, 2014 02:02:58 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
1:00- Kelly Gorman, Senior Manager, Public Issues, Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division
Almost all adult smokers start smoking before the age of 18. To stay profitable the tobacco industry needs to attract youth to it’s products and smoking. It is no coincidence that smoking rates on-screen, in movies are much higher than in the general population. Smoking appears in movies with the frequency of aggressive product placement. Tobacco use is responsible for 30 per cent of all cancers and 85 per cent of lung cancers. In Ontario it is directly responsible for 13,000 deaths each year. The Tobacco Vector Report estimates that up to 44 per cent of youth smoking initiation can be attributed to positive images of smoking on-screen, in movies. Advertising works based on repetition. The more you are positively exposed to a brand or an idea the more likely you are to use that brand or take action on the idea. Youth are more susceptible to advertising than adults. This is why smoking in movies is a concern. The high repetition of celebrities smoking in movies targets youth. It is a highly effective way to tell youth that smoking is a normal, cool and desirable behaviour. In 2011: 92% of top grossing movies were youth-rated in Ontario. (72 per cent in US) 85% of top grossing movies with smoking were youth-rated in Ontario. (56 per cent in US) 80% of tobacco impressions* were delivered in youth-rated movies in Ontario. The Ontario Film Review Board has the ability to change Ontario’s rating system so that all new movies that contain smoking would be rated 18A. Direction from the Minister of Consumer Services can help make this change happen.
1:30- Guy Exley, with Impact Events Group Inc
The Mighty Machines Showcase is a family oriented community event that brings Mighty Machines to life, providing adults and kids a chance to see construction and other service vehicles up close. Kids can touch them! Investigate them! Talk to the people that operate them! Since 2004, over 33,000 people have attended the event, raising $16,500 for charity. There is plenty to do with over 50 machines to explore, kids will be kept busy for a while! Most machines will have an operator so your kids can talk to the person who drives it and also climb inside and explore.
1:45- Shannon Hall, Shinerama Coordinator
Shinerama is Canada’s largest post-secondary fundraiser involving students at almost 60 university and college campuses across Canada, raising money for cystic fibrosis research. Shinerama was developed in 1961 at Wilfrid Laurier University by Paul Enns as a way for first-year students to get involved and give back to their community. It was not until 1964, when the national Shinerama campaign for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was launched, that funds were directed to support Cystic Fibrosis research. The success of Shinerama allowed this charitable event to grow from a small municipal shoe-shining event to becoming one of Canada’s largest fundraising efforts. Shinerama currently boasts 55 universities participating in the event countrywide in this annual affair and continues to work with the CCFF.
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