Project Information
What’s the Project About?
Hey folks! First off, we want to acknowledge that everyone has a unique experience with commercial tobacco use, and the last thing you probably want is anyone judging or telling you what you are doing is wrong or harmful.
This is a research project and social marketing campaign to better understand relationships with commercial tobacco and its culture among young adults who identify as 2SLGBTQI+ in Thunder Bay, Toronto, and Montreal.
The Ontario Tobacco Research Unit at the University of Toronto and the Canadian Cancer Society are leading this project with extensive input from and collaboration with an advisory committee, 2SLGBTQI+ young adults, lead community partners, and collaborative working groups from each city.
This project has been funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada from October 2019 until September 2023.
Campaign Development
The project team is currently conducting market research which includes multiple rounds of focus groups and a longitudinal online survey. These research methods aim to better understand the unique experiences and journeys of gender and sexually diverse young adults have with smoking, and how these experiences are compounded by other factors such as social connectivity, mental health as well as a range of intersectional factors including race, class, income, age, ability, immigration status, cultural influences, geography, etc.
Findings from the focus groups and online survey will be used to develop the campaign, create accessible space for community, and safe services for those looking to reduce or stop smoking. This research will also fill gaps in the existing literature on 2SLGBTI+ commercial tobacco use.
Focus Groups Round 3
We are currently accepting participants for our upcoming virtual focus groups in August 2021. These sessions will concentrate on the direction of our campaign approach, ideas on conversations and messaging around community health, and discussing accessible safe support services for folx looking to reduce their smoking or begin the journey of quitting. We will be hosting two virtual sessions per pilot city using Microsoft Teams.
You might be eligible to participate if you:
- Are between the ages of 16 to 29
- Identify as 2SLGBTQI+
- Live in Thunder Bay, Toronto, or Montreal
- Have direct or indirect experience with commercial tobacco use
We encourage folx who are Indigenous, Person of Colour, Two-Spirit or are of various ethnic-racial background, social location, and diverse identities and lived experiences to consider participating.
Participants will be compensated with a $40 e-gift card for their participation.
If you'd like to fill out our eligibility survey or have any questions, please contact the project team.
Project Updates
Sign up for project updates.
Contact Details
If you have any questions about the project, please don’t hesitate to reach out to smokingproject.dlsph@utoronto.ca.
Project Team
- Dr. Robert Schwartz (Principal Investigator), Ontario Tobacco Research Unit
- Dr. Michael Chaiton, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- Dr. Bruce Baskerville, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
- Mahalia Dixon, Ontario Tobacco Research Unit
- Ron Renaud, Montreal LGBTQ+ Community Centre
- Deanna Kerkvliet, Ontario Tobacco Research Unit
- Lynn Planinac, Ontario Tobacco Research Unit
- Catherine MacDonald, Ontario Tobacco Research Unit
- Katina Kominos, Canadian Cancer Society, ON
- Lena Ghatage, Canadian Cancer Society, ON
- Andrée-Sophie Levasseur, Canadian Cancer Society, QC
Advisory Committee, Young Adult Advisory, and Collaborative Working Groups Chart (PDF)