Thunder Bay’s LGBTQ community is being targeted for a quit smoking pilot program.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit is administering it and spokesperson Dan DePeuter says “Thunder Bay was likely chosen because we have a different population demographic than the other two pilot sites of Toronto and Montreal,” especially as it relates to the Indigenous population.
The health official explains the LGBTQ community also has higher rates of smoking than the rest of the general population.
DePeuter explains it is currently in the research phase and the project will not be underway for another year, possibly two.
“Right now what you’re seeing (are) partner organizations sort of being interviewed and being brought together in an advisory capacity, the rest of the components will be developed over the next few months and years,” said DePeuter.
The five-year program is being funded by the Public Health Association of Canada.
