Incentives to get smokers to quit

Among the speakers at the event were Coun. Diane Deans, chairperson of the Community and Protective Services Committee, and Rob Cunningham, a policy analyst with Canadian Cancer Society.

“It is critical that we continue to offer and promote smoking cessation opportunities, like the Driven to Quit Challenge, to Ottawa residents so that they can try to achieve a smoke free lifestyle…a lifestyle that is free of dependence and disease caused by smoking,” said Deans.

Ottawa Public Health is a partner in the Challenge, which supports Smoke-Free Ontario by encouraging Ontarians to make an attempt to quit with the support services available to them.

Since 2006, the Challenge has had more than 101,000 entries. Among the prizes for this year’s entrants who quit are a 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid or a $5,000 CAA vacation getaway. Participants must be 19 years-of-age, and residents of Ontario who have used tobacco at least once weekly for a year. They must sign up with a support buddy and remain tobacco-free for the entire month of March.

More than 250 people from the Ottawa region have registered this year, but those who have quit smoking since the New Year or plan to quit by March can still register.

Registration is open until Feb. 28 at www.DrivenToQuit.ca or by calling the Canadian Cancer Society Smokers’ Helpline at 1-877-513-5333. Those who register by January 31, 2010 are entered to win an early bird prize, a $1,000 MasterCard gift card.

Winners will be announced publicly and listed on the website on April 19.