Health Canada announces funding for micro-grants for cannabis and vaping awareness initiatives

Local public education projects will help Canadians better understand the health effects associated with the use of cannabis or vaping products

OTTAWA, April 26, 2019 /CNW/ - Canadians often go to people they know and trust in their communities for health-related information. Health Canada recognizes the importance of these community-level conversations and wants to support community leaders across the country in providing Canadians with information to make informed choices about their health.

Today, Health Canada announced the launch of a new three-year, $600,000 micro-grant fund, under its Substance Use and Addictions Program, to support community-led education efforts to inform the public about the health facts of cannabis use and vaping.

Canadians over the age of 16, Canadian not-for-profit organizations and community-based organizations can now apply for a micro-grant of up to $1,000 to support public education projects in their communities.

To be eligible, projects must disseminate factual information to increase awareness about the health risks of cannabis use or vaping and must foster action at the community level to reduce harms associated with cannabis use or vaping. Examples of activities that could be funded include hosting a community event, developing tailored educational materials, or simply adapting or disseminating existing public education resources, such as the Government of Canada's Pursue Your Passion toolkit.

Micro-grants are part of the Government of Canada's efforts—carried out in collaboration with provinces, territories, Indigenous and community-based organizations and other partners—to disseminate clear, consistent and evidence-based information on the health and safety facts about cannabis use and vaping.

Individuals or organizations who believe a micro-grant could help them to reach Canadians about cannabis use or vaping are encouraged to visit Health Canada's website to apply  

Quotes

"Ensuring that Canadians are aware of the health effects of cannabis use and vaping is key to helping to reduce the harms associated with these activities. I am pleased that our Government is offering these micro-grants to help Canadians take action within their communities. Armed with factual information from a source they trust, Canadians can make informed decisions and lead healthier lives."

The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Minister of Health

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada has committed $62.5 million over five years to support the involvement of community-based organizations and Indigenous organizations that are educating their communities on the risks associated with cannabis use. This includes funding through Health Canada's Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP) to carry out community-based work.
• The Government of Canada has also committed $6.1 million over 3 years (2017-2020) to support a public education campaign aimed at preventing youth vaping, with the goal of increasing awareness about the harms and risks associated with the use of vaping products.
• Applications for micro-grants will be processed on a first-come first-served basis. Health Canada will give consideration to equitable geographic distribution across the country.
• Micro-grant recipients must, as a funding requirement, post a photo of their public education event, initiative or product on social media using either the hashtag #CannabisAware or #VapingInfo to help increase awareness about the health effects of cannabis use and the risks of vaping.
• The Pursue your Passion toolkit builds on Health Canada's well-received Pursue Your Passion experiential marketing tour, in a digital do-it-yourself format available for download at Pursueyourpassion.ca. The content is free to download and could be used to organize a cannabis public education event to discuss the health effects of using cannabis with a youth audience.

Associated Links
Micro-grants information and application
Pursue Your Passion 
Cannabis Public Education Activities 
Canada.ca/Vaping-Info 
Canada.ca/Cannabis

SOURCE Health Canada

Thierry Bélair, Office of Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, 613-957-0200; Media Relations, Health Canada, 613-957-2983, [email protected], Public Inquiries: 613-957-2991, 1-866-225-0709