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
- iQuitnow 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!
A winning formula!
After 14 years of existence, the Quit to Win! Challenge remains relevant in a province where there is still 21% of the population smoking*, which represents over 1.5 million smokers. Among them, nearly 60% want 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!
14 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 14th 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, a campaign that provides support to smokers who want to quit, is an initiative of ACTI-MENU, produced in partnership with several public and private organizations, specifically Quebec’s ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux and the Directions de santé publique des Agences de la santé et des services sociaux du Québec, the Canadian Cancer Society, Jean Coutu and Novartis. Since its creation, 340,000 people have participated in the Quit to Win! Challenge.
* Statistique Canada (2011). Tableau CANSIM 105-0501. Profil d’indicateurs de la santé, estimations annuelles, selon le groupe d’âge et le sexe, Canada, provinces, territoires, régions sociosanitaires (limites de 2011) et groupes de régions homologues.
