Smoke-Free Campus Policy

Vancouver Community College (VCC; the College) is committed to promoting and maintaining a healthy and safe teaching, learning and working environment where all College members are protected from exposure to smoke.

This policy outlines the practices implemented by the College to support smoke-free College campuses. The College also recognizes and supports the diversity and celebration of Indigenous practices, including the burning of sacred plants.

This policy applies to all persons while on VCC property, including students, employees, contractors and the public.

The College will adhere to all relevant local, provincial and federal regulations.

1. VCC does not permit smoking of any type of product (e.g. tobacco, cannabis or other combustible smoking product) or the use of the following devices in any College owned or leased building, on College property, in any College owned vehicle or in any vehicle while on College property:
   
   
   
   1. cigarettes
   
   
   2. e-cigarettes, vapor pens, or similar devices
   
   
   3. cigars
   
   
   4. pipes
   
   
   5. hookahs or water pipes
   
   
   
   


2. The College is actively working towards indigenizing its practices, and recognizes that Indigenous students, faculty, staff and community engage in a variety of traditional ceremonies and practices which may include the burning of sacred plants, such as tobacco, sage, cedar, sweetgrass, and others. The College has guidelines on the practice of these traditions on College property available on the College website.


3. All members of the College Community are responsible to be in compliance with this policy and are encouraged to remind other members of the College Community of this policy. Reports of non-compliance with this policy should be submitted to Campus Security.


4. The College will adopt a flexible and supportive approach to responding to violations of this policy by members of the College community. Repeated violations of this policy may be resolved under the appropriate College policy and/or collective agreement.

College Member

All current VCC Students, Employees, and Board members.

Employee

An individual who is currently employed by VCC on a full-time, part-time, permanent, temporary, term, casual or contract basis.

Student

An individual who is registered in a full-time or part-time credit or non-credit course or program at the College.

VCC Property

Land, buildings or spaces owned, leased or rented by the College. This includes:
a. a building or portion of a building of which the College has exclusive possession;
b. within any building or structure located on property, such as offices, classrooms, lecture halls, labs, corridors and washrooms;
c. in building entrances, lobbies, reception areas or any other common area;
d. on any exterior land or space;
e. in any vehicle owned, leased or rented by the College or any vehicle used for College purposes; or
f. in any parking lots.

• Rental of College Facilities (140)
• Standards of Employee Conduct & Conflict of Interest (202)
• Student Non-Academic Conduct (324)

• Guidelines for the Burning of Sacred Plants on VCC Campuses

• The Constitution Act, 1982, Schedule B to the Canada Act 1982 (UK), 1982, c 11 [Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms]


• Human Rights Code, RSBC 1996, c 210


• Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, BC Reg 296/97, (Workers Compensation Act)


• Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act, RSBC 1996, c 451


• Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action


• United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples


• Workers Compensation Act, RSBC 2019, c 1