Students demonstrate against smoking

One hundred and thirty snow angels, outlined in black and numbered, appeared around Iqaluit on Tuesday, Nov. 15.

That’s about the number of Canadians who die from tobacco-related illnesses each day, according to the group behind the project. Thirteen high school students from Nunavut’s communities were responsible, working under the Minister’s Youth Action Team on Tobacco.

That same day presentations were held in Inuksuk High on the dangers of tobacco, with the help of the Hamilton Crew for Action Against Tobacco.

There were also some surprises, like when organizers pretended to drop dead in the school’s hallways at the sound of a bullhorn, making a point about the effects of smoking on students.

In Nunavut, seven out of 10 youth between the ages of 12 and 19 smoke.