SHORTCUTS
What is the Challenge?
From March 1 to April 11, make a commitment not to smoke for 6 weeks.
Participate in the Challenge in your own way: alone, with the help of a non-smoking sponsor or by teaming up with another smoker who also wants to quit.
To take up your Challenge successfully, choose the available tools and resources that meet your needs. They’re free!
- Exclusively for participants:
- personal file for each participant
- support kit available in Jean Coutu Pharmacies
- I’m Butting Out! encouragement e-mails
- QuitChallenge.ca website with information and tools
- Facebook page providing a network of motivating supporters
- TELUS Health Solutions application to quit with the support of friends (available on January 18)
- Ligne j’Arrête helpline – 1 866 527-7383 – and the Quit Smoking Centre in your area for personalized support
You will also qualify to win one of many prizes!
Register before March 1!
A winning formula!
After 13 years of existence, the Quit to Win! Challenge remains relevant in a province where between 20.7% and 22.5% of the population are smokers*, and where nearly 60% wish to quit.
The various surveys carried out to measure the impact of the Quit to Win! Challenge show that on average, 2 out of 3 participants successfully meet the challenge of not smoking for six weeks, an extremely encouraging figure for participants!
* According to the Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey (CTUMS, 2009), 20.7% of the population of Quebec aged 15 and over are smokers, including 17.9% of women and 23.7% of men, a total 1,343,430 people1. According to the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS, 2009) Quebec still includes 22.5% of smokers age 12 and over (21.2% of women and 23.8% of men, for a total of 1,499,501 people)2.
12 years already!
In 1999, the ACTI-MENU team and the Direction de santé publique de l’Agence de santé et services sociaux de Montréal had the idea to initiate a vast provincial campaign to help Quebeckers free themselves of tobacco, using a positive and motivating approach. The Challenge had to bring smokers and non-smokers together in a same campaign, based on respect and mutual support. In 2013, the Challenge is in its 13th year.
This home-grown initiative was inspired by the World Health Organization's Quit & Win campaign, which originated in Finland.
The Quit to Win! Challenge, held annually since 2000, is an initiative of ACTI-MENU and is produced in partnership with several public and private organizations, namely the Québec ministry of health and social services, the Québec’s public health departments, Health Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society, Jean Coutu, Novartis and Telus Health Solutions. Since its inception, nearly 295,000 people have participated in the Quit to Win! Challenge.
1Statistique Canada (2009). Enquête de surveillance de l’usage du tabac au Canada 2008 (ESUTC).
2Statistique Canada (2009). Enquête sur la santé dans les collectivités canadiennes (ESCC). Tableau 105-0501.
