Strength in numbers is the name of the game for Cochrane, Alta. on Saturday.
The town is calling on all smokers to give up the vice for 24 days, an idea that was brought to the forefront by a retired pharmacist who served the community for three decades.
Kelly Kimmett managed to persuade Cochrane residents of his idea and the town has now proclaimed Saturday to be “Cochrane Quits Smoking Day.”
His hope is that a day without tobacco could encourage some smokers to stop for good.
While many smokers fail in their attempts to quit because they try to do it alone, city officials think that the empowerment of having an entire town behind them could help the effort.
For those who don’t smoke, the mayor and council are asking them to show support by giving up a vice of their own, like soda, sugar or alcohol.
The event kicks off with a pancake breakfast and registration on Saturday morning.
There will then be presentations on programs and products meant to help smokers quit the habit.
Anyone who gets involved will be entered to win an airline ticket and will receive extra entries into the draw for full packages of tobacco they hand in.
