The Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board (WECDSB) is now fully compliant with provincial vaping legislation.
The board has changed its policy to formally match the Smoke Free Ontario Act covering smoking, vaping and cannabis use.
Board Chair Fulvio Valentinis says they have made the policy explicit so there's no mistaking what the intent is.
"You can tell from the marketing that's going on with respect to these products that they're gearing them towards young people in many cases," he says. "We felt that we're seeing it and It's not just in our system but all the schools throughout the province are seeing a dramatic increase."
He admits enforcing the new policy will be somewhat of a challenge.
"People can basically try and conceal it and that, but we work with the health unit and they have what used to be called tobacco enforcement officers. They basically come into the schools either invited or they can come in on their own and basically monitor the situation."
The WECDSB policy is similar to the previous one in that you can't smoke on any school property or sports field or within 20ft of the property.
It now adds the wording to include vaping and cannabis use and is in effect immediately.