History

At a meeting held at the Canadian Cancer Society on August 8th, 2001, the Council for a Tobacco-Free Manitoba dissolved itself clearing the way for a new organization to lead tobacco reduction initiatives in Manitoba.  In July 1999, the Tobacco Working Group released a discussion paper titled Reducing Tobacco Use and was followed by What You Told Us, a report that summarized community discussions held in Winnipeg, Brandon, and The Pas.  It included goals, priority initiatives, and general strategies that identified “unanimous support for the formation of a body that would serve as the ongoing catalyst and coordinator for a comprehensive provincial tobacco control strategy.”

In 2001, a group of concerned individuals came together to try to address the need for a leadership body to coordinate provincial tobacco control activities under a comprehensive strategy and in February 2002, a Board of Directors was established where ten individuals representing a variety of professional backgrounds became the founding board members.  MANTRA was subsequently incorporated in June 2002 at which time Murray Gibson agreed to act as the organization’s Executive Director.  In addition, working groups were formed to address provincial strategy development, membership, a communications plan, solicitation, and business plan development.  From there, an organization “to provide leadership in the reduction of tobacco use in Manitoba” was created.

Milestones in the history of tobacco reduction in Manitoba:

2002

• MANTRA was incorporated.

2003   

• Smokers’ Helpline was introduced in Manitoba through the Canadian Cancer Society, Manitoba Division.
• Not On Tobacco (N.O.T.) program introduced by the Manitoba Lung Association.
• City of Winnipeg goes smoke-free in all public places.

2004

• Manitoba is the first province in Canada to go smoke-free in all public and work places.

2005

• Restrictions on display and promotion of tobacco products came into effect.
• Brief Intervention Counseling (BIC) project was developed in partnership with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.

2006

• MANTRA releases “Tobacco Reduction:  A Cessation Framework” that forms the basis for ongoing smoking cessation activities in Manitoba.

2008

• MANTRA partners with Regional Health Authorities and Health Canada to initiate two-year Workplace Smoking Cessation project.
• Health Behaviour Change training is used in Regional Health Authorities across Manitoba.
• Training Enhancement in Applied Cessation Counselling and Health (TEACH) is delivered by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
• Implementation of MANTRA's revised comprehensive tobacco reduction strategy for 2008-2012.