Physicians for A smokefree Canada present this new documentary about Heather Crowe. A tribute to an extraordinary advocate and person.
The film shows how this one remarkable individual galvanized political and public health efforts to protect workers from second hand smoke.
“Heather Crowe’s Legacy: An Ordinary Canadian’s Extraordinary Gift” is a
25 minute film produced by Ottawa-area filmmakers Judy Redpath and
Richard Austin. Weaving together footage from Heather’s trips across
Canada and interviews with Heather and her supporters, the documentary
film makers show how this one remarkable individual galvanized political
and public health efforts to protect workers from second hand smoke.
Heather Crowe was a non-smoking waitress in Ottawa who became ill with
lung cancer in the spring-summer of 2002 as a result of a 40 year career
in mostly smoke-filled restaurants. From the time of her diagnosis until
her death four years later, Heather campaigned for changes to municipal,
provincial and federal laws. Her successful claim for compensation
benefits from the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and a
Health Canada advertisement about her helped Canadians understand the
serious health consequences of being exposed to second hand smoke.
“When Heather began her courageous campaign to transform attitudes and
the law, very few workers were protected from second-hand smoke,” said
Cynthia Callard, executive director
of Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada. “Her campaign strengthened public
health initiatives across Canada, and today more than 80% of Canadians
live in communities where the law requires that all restaurants, bars
and workplaces are smoke-free.”
Heather Crowe’s Legacy captures the spirit and accomplishment of this
brave private citizen who successfully struggled for others even while
facing her own death. In telling the story of how Heather has helped to
transform Canada, the film shows how Heather herself was transformed
from a private to a public figure and what that meant to her.
“Heather never lost herself to this campaign,” said Callard. “Despite
being in the public eye during the most private of moments, Heather
remained honest, determined and selfless.”
The film is designed for viewing in family settings as well as in
classrooms or community meetings. By showing that with courage and
determination, one ordinary person can make a difference; one person can
change society for the better the film will be of interest to Canadians
working on other pressing social issues.
“We are very grateful to those who helped us finance this video,” said
Callard. Funding for the film was provided by Health Canada, the
Canadian Council for Tobacco Control and the Manitoba Medical
Association.
The film can be viewed on the web-sites of Physicians for a Smoke-Free
Canada (www.smoke-free.ca) and can be viewed or ordered from the
Canadian Council for Tobacco Control (www.cctc.ca).
“Heather’s campaign is not yet over,” said Callard. “There are several
Canadian governments which have not yet improved their labour code or
smoking laws to protect all workers from tobacco smoke in indoor
workplaces, including the federal government and those in Alberta,
British Columbia and Saskatchewan.
Among those continuing Heather’s campaign are the Ottawa youth activist
group, exposé, and a black ribbon campaign lead by Queen’s freshman,
Danielle Mignault. The Heather Crowe Legacy Foundation, administered by
the Canadian Council for Tobacco Control, provides a way for other
Canadians to support this ongoing work.
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