A Salmon Arm resident and longtime, outspoken anti-tobacco activist will be recognized in a new bylaw to ban smoking in city parks.
On Monday evening, a public hearing was held in city council chambers for the proposed Amendments to a Parks Regulation Bylaw that would see smoking prohibited in all municipal parks and public areas including the Ross Street Plaza, Canoe Beach, the Turner Creek Trail and the Mt. Ida Cemetery. Dan MacQuarrie was one of the few to turn out for the hearing, though he kept quiet, despite having spent more than three decades working towards such a bylaw in Salmon Arm and elsewhere in the province. With no one speaking for or against the bylaw, the hearing ended quickly. Mayor Nancy Cooper then suggested an amendment, that the bylaw be named after MacQuarrie.
“This smoking bylaw has been the work of one Mr. Dan MacQuarrie, and he has actually been working on smoking bylaws for 38 years, or non-smoking bylaws, and so I am just asking council if they would add Dan’s name to this so it would be kind of like… Dan’s Bylaw,” said Cooper.
Couns. Debbie Cannon and Marg Kentel expressed their respect and appreciation for all the work MacQuarrie has done, but were reluctant to see the city set a precedent by naming a bylaw after someone.
“My mother-in-law said to me Dan MacQuarrie was working on that when he was on council. He was very visionary, because he wanted the no-smoking in public areas,” Cannon commented. “And I totally support your work that you’ve done, and that you’ve stuck with this for 38 years, Dan. But for me, I can’t support naming a bylaw, attaching someone’s name to it, just because I think that opens up a can of worms for other things.”
With respect to Cannon’s position, Coun. Alan Harrison argued in favour of recognizing MacQuarrie, stating it would add a little pizzazz to the bylaw.
“I think it will maybe help catch the community’s interest and understanding of the bylaw,” said Harrison. “I understand Mr. MacQuarrie is all right with having his name attached to it. So that’s important. I don’t really have a problem. Most of our bylaws aren’t that attractive so most people probably won’t want their names on them.”
Coun. Ken Jamieson was of similar mind, stating he didn’t think anyone would be disgruntled about not having their names attached to bylaws or initiatives they’ve been part of.
After the amendment passed, council gave third reading to the bylaw. Harrison referred to two letters received by the city as the only opposition he had heard to the bylaw. But he said the writers may not have been clear on the bylaw’s intent, that it isn’t just about eliminating cigarette butts.
“In my mind, the biggest reason for this is so that we don’t have to breathe in second-hand smoke when we’re doing recreational activities,” said Harrison.
Jamieson said the bylaw isn’t about tramping on people’s rights, and that there is “going to be ample room for everybody to enjoy the type of air they want to breathe.”
Council also gave third reading to a related ticketing bylaw. Those caught smoking in a park or public place may be fined $100.