NWT youth will be receiving more modern and interactive cannabis education campaigns. Four augmented-reality animated posters with characters like Creepy Baby and Stoney the Inukshuk were unveiled last week at Yellowknife’s public library in hopes to capture the eyes and educate the minds of youths around the territories.
The ads are backed by $1.8 million from Health Canada over three years to help the GNWT create a cannabis public education campaign that promises to be comprehensive and interactive.
MP Michael McLeod says he’s pleased that the Government of Canada is supporting the GNWT in its cannabis public education efforts.
“Collaborative partnerships such as this one are helping to provide Canadians with clear, consistent and evidence-based information on the health and safety facts about cannabis.”
Through the use of traditional media and social media platforms, augmented reality, community-led engagement sessions and other innovative public education tools, the campaign will bring health and safety information to communities across the territory to help individuals make informed decisions about cannabis use.
Minister of Health and Social Services for the NWT Glen Abernethy notes that the federal investment will support activities in communities throughout the NWT.
“It will help residents, particularly young people, have access to culturally safe information that will help them make healthy and responsible choices on cannabis use.”
He also noted that the territorial government will schedule visits to all NWT communities and will tailor its education plans for each community. However, he expects not all communities will want to do things the same way.
“We’re going to provide them with some resources and the information they need; we’re going to help facilitate the design and delivery of those. If we hear they don’t like that, we’ll try something else, we’re open to that.”
