Each January, during National Non-Smoking Week, BC Public Service employees share inspiring quit stories and tips through our annual contest. The stories celebrate the courage, determination, and resilience it takes to go nicotine-free—proof that quitting is possible!
Explore the stories
See how quitting gave David more time—and how he’s using it.
You are learning new things
"I decided to learn a new language! Instead of spending my time smoking, I practice my new vocabulary in Italian! I am already at an intermediate level :)"
You are moving your bodies more
"My father quit smoking 15 years ago and now he spends his time hiking, nordic and downhill skiing, learning to golf, learning to swim. He completed the 7 days West Coast Trail this past summer."
"I am a smoker but if I quit, I would get back to dancing again. I haven't danced in a while and I can see how it's affecting my mindset and my body."
You are letting your creativity flow
"When I quit smoking I started learning how to build things out of reclaimed wood! Dismantling pallets was a great stress reliever and the physical process distracted me from cravings."
You are nesting and improving your spaces
"I have more time to sleep in, enjoy longer showers, exercise, and cook healthy meals since quitting smoking. Basically, I have gained at least an hour each day to do more things I enjoy!"
"Three years had passed since my chosen quit day and I celebrated by buying myself a new TV with the money I had saved. It was the first TV I had ever purchased for myself."
You are connecting with others
"The best part of not smoking is the fact that I don't smell like an ashtray and my daughter loves to be held tightly when hugging her again."
Hollie credits her volunteer work with a nearby SPCA as the big inspirational push she needed to finally quit smoking. As soon as she started making regular visits to the shelter to care for the rabbits, ferrets, mice, rats and guinea pigs, she found that she loved it so much that it quickly became the highlight of her week!
The more time that Hollie would spend caring for and cuddling the animals, the more she would think about how the smell of the smoke on her body was affecting them. She felt so much joy from being with the animals that she decided that she wanted to live a long and healthy life alongside the animals. She was determined not to let anything, including her smoking addiction, get in the way of her regular shelter visits.
Like most smokers, Hollie had tried to quit many times on her own, but nothing she did ever really stuck. When she found out that as a BC Public Service employee, she could access a ton of free resources and support through her employer, she decided to take the leap to quit once and for all.
She was relieved to find out that she was eligible to be reimbursed for smoking cessation products through her job. She also signed up to receive bi-weekly Quit Tips via text message and used a quit-smoking app to track her progress. Hollie also read a lot about the benefit of quitting and did a ton of research. The more Hollie learned about how quickly her body would bounce back after quitting, the more motivated she was to quit.
Hollie also connected with a free Quit Coach, a virtual counselor who helped her build and follow a quit plan. The coaches were available to her when she had questions and provided her with helpful advice for how to handle difficult situations and resist the urge to smoke. Hollie says that the extra interactions helped her feel less alone. “I don’t think I would have quit smoking (for the last time!) if it wasn’t for these resources.”
