The City of Orillia would like to remind residents that smoking/vaping tobacco, cannabis and other substances outdoors on property owned or leased by the City of Orillia is prohibited.
As per Chapter 954 of the City of Orillia Municipal Code, smoking/vaping outdoors is prohibited in the following locations:
· All municipal properties;
· City parks, trails and beaches;
· Properties leased from the City;
· City parking lots;
· City docks and piers;
· On or within vehicles on City-owned or leased properties, including parking lots;
· On or within a boat located or moored on City-owned or leased property.
“Orillia Council is committed to fostering a healthier, greener community by providing public spaces that are smoke and vape free. This provides a welcoming environment that contributes to the overall well-being of our residents. When Council put this by-law in place in 2019, we sought to strike a balance between opting in to the sale of recreational cannabis in Orillia, while also being respectful that people may not want it used in public spaces,” said Mayor Steve Clarke.
In 2019, Council approved some specific and general exemptions to the smoking/vaping by-law. The exemptions apply to a person that is:
· Smoking/vaping on any portion of a highway (this includes sidewalks) as municipalities do not have any jurisdiction to regulate this area;
· Smoking/vaping while situated on a vessel containing sleeping, cooking, and toilet facilities that is moored within any City-owned or leased water lot;
· Smoking/vaping on a campsite within a park, provided the campsite has been approved by the City in conjunction with a special event;
· Entitled to possess cannabis for medical purposes and can provide the necessary documentation;
· The current designated smoking area at the City-owned Nordia property (2 Hunter Valley Rd.) and the Stephen Leacock Museum (50 Museum Dr.) during special events, subject to a smoking permit being issued by the City’s Community Services Department.
“The City of Orillia has erected signage throughout the city to advise people which properties are smoke and vape free. These costs were subsidized through provincial funding provided by the Ministry of Finance associated with the legalization of cannabis,” said Shawn Crawford, Manager of Legislative Services.
To report smoking or vaping in prohibited outdoor areas on City-owned or leased property, please contact the City’s By-law Office at 705-325-231 or by-law@orillia.ca. For more information on the City of Orillia smoking/vaping by-law visit orillia.ca/smokefree.
A reminder to residents that smoking/vaping tobacco, cannabis and other substances outdoors on property owned or leased by the City of #Orillia is prohibited. For details, including exemptions, read the release at https://t.co/Xv4mZjqs38 or visit https://t.co/wfvgZN39NU pic.twitter.com/S3TL51YjmZ
— City of Orillia (@cityoforillia) June 18, 2020