Ready to quit? Or thinking about it? Tried to quit a few times and worried you won’t stay smoke-free for good? Our quitline is here to help. Smokers’ Helpline is a free, confidential service operated by the Canadian Cancer Society offering support and information about quitting smoking and tobacco use.
Learn how our service works or register online for the self-directed quit program. Get access to information, tools, and exercises to help you quit and stay quit, and join our online support community to share your experiences. You can also receive support on the go with text messages customized to your quit date. Text IQUIT to the number 123456 to register or sign-up online. (Service available to ON, SK, PEI phone numbers only. Text messaging rates may apply)
Or call us – a quit coach can answer your questions, help you develop a personal quit plan or refer you to programs and services in your community.
And if you want to support someone who’s trying to quit, we can give you tips on how to help.
Bilingual services are offered by phone and online at 1 877 513-5333 and smokershelpline.ca (Phone service in Ontario is provided by Telehealth Ontario at 1 866 797-0000). Interpreter services in over 100 languages are also available by phone. For Quitline services in other provinces, visit www.cancer.ca/quitlines. Funding varies by province/territory, so services may also vary.
EllisDon, in partnership with the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) and Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has launched Build Smoke-Free, a way to connect construction workers who are ready to quit smoking with free resources and information to increase their chances of quitting successfully.
Build Smoke-Free (BSF) was developed by the CCS, in collaboration with EllisDon and Ottawa Public Health. Also involved is the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health who is facilitating access to nicotine replacement therapy to participants, while Ontario Tobacco Research Unit (University of Toronto) is the research & evaluation partner. BSF is receiving partial funding from Public Health Agency of Canada to scale up in Ontario and into two other provinces over the next three years.
BSF is an expansion of a successful model built by OPH, which was funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in 2013-14 as one of 13 demonstration projects at the time. A needs assessment conducted as part of the OPH pilot and BSF incorporates many of the original program components including fostering champions on worksites, tailoring the program to suit the work site, addressing stress as a leading cause of relapse, and increasing availability of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to support cessation.
Core to the program is a contest that all workers can take part it in to create an environment that is more supportive for those who are trying to quit smoking.
“Having both tobacco users and non-users get involved is the best way to make a culture shift towards smoke-free work sites” states CCS Senior Manager, Katina Kominos.
Overall, BSF aims to:
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 Figure 1 – BSF participant, Jabriel Minawai, who signed up to quit smoking, is seen wearing our "Caution... Quitting in Progress" t-shirt! |
Build Smoke-Free is currently being delivered in six EllisDon sites across Ontario, with plans to expand to Alberta in 2020.
For more information regarding contest details, please contact:
Karen Kuzmich (Toronto/GTA area): kkuzmich@ontario.cancer.ca, 905-387-4322 x 5629
Heidi McKean (Ottawa area): heidi.mckean@ottawa.ca, 613-315-2503
All winners are acknowledged through our winner poster, as seen below, which is placed in the site lunch rooms, trailers, etc... Pictured below is the Spring 2019 winner poster from the Brockville site.
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Pictured to the left is Dimas Pacheco, Spring 2019 contest winner at The Well. Dimas used the BSF contest as an opportunity and incentive to crush his 2 pack a day addiction. What an accomplishment! |
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After significantly reducing his tobacco consumption using the various cessation supports provided by BSF, including the NRT patch, Mike (pictured to the left) said "I feel a lot better! I’ve cut out everything else and I’m now a vegan, and this is the last thing I need to do to live better" |
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Pictured to the left is BSF participant, Andy Leo, who signed up to quit smoking. BSF staff deliver CO monitor testing on-site to increase worker's awareness regarding the health effects of tobacco use, as well as to motivate and encourage tobacco users to quit smoking. Andy said "that number really messed with me" regarding his high CO level reading. By the 3rd week of the program Mike had reduced his tobacco consumption from 1.5 packs of cigarettes per day to 4 cigarettes a day and is committed to reduce until fully smoke-free! |
| "Momentum was there and I wanted to go with the flow" said Bruce Demers, Spring 2019 Quit category winner at the Carling site. | |
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Monday to Thursday: 9:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Live chat available
Walk or Run to Quit is a program for people of all fitness levels that canhelp you quit smoking by learning to walk or run 5 km!
The program uses a simple step by step approach that makes it easy to quit smoking by becoming more active. Walking and running can help smokers cope with discomfort and cravings while cutting down and quitting smoking.
Learn more at runtoquit.com
I was in total shock when I heard the diagnosis of cancer. Cancer to me was an adult’s disease. Being a 13-year-old teenager, it certainly wasn’t even on my radar.
Discover how 16 factors affect your cancer risk and how you can take action with our interactive tool – It’s My Life! Presented in partnership with Desjardins.
