Call for support
 
For immediate release
 
January 19, 2006 London, Ontario  January 19^th, 2006, is a big day for retired Guelph nurse and neighbourhood coffee shop owner Diana Reid.
 
After an ongoing battle protecting her rights and the rights of her smoking customers Reid will be sentenced for not displaying ‘no smoking’ notices, having ashtrays and allowing patrons to smoke. Reid has protected her smoking customers from charges in innovative ways. Not one of her customers has been charged.
 
“Nobody wants to go to jail. But I’m not afraid of going to jail,” says Reid, the 61 year old mother of three and grandmother of six.
 
Reid bought a small coffee shop after retirement to keep busy, but shortly after opening Guelph introduced a smoking ban that forbid smoking in her business. She joined others fighting the ban but many of those businesses have since closed and others have given up.
 
“Now I fight alone” says the committed grandmother.
 
“I am used to fighting for my rights and am not afraid to fight now. I could draw my pension and sit at home, but I am so mad to be told at my age what is good for me.”
 
After the complete ban began January 2000 Reid fought many charges and won on technical details. When she could no longer afford the fees, a paralegal friend offered advice. Another slew of 12 similar charges netted her a $5000 fine. These charges are still being appealed at the next level.

Additional charges followed and Reid was found guilty resulting in today’s sentencing that may send her to jail. She plans on appealing this immediately. Reid plans on filing a charter challenge to the Supreme Court of Canada.
 
Because the by law in Guelph was about smoking in the workplace she let her staff and reduced her opening hours. She now works twelve hour days seven days a week with no holidays.
 
Her coffee shop was heavily vandalized and windows broken earlier in her battle but it was the many hate phone calls she received that haunted her.
 
Since the ban Reid has watched as “all our Bingo halls have closed, all small shops like mine have closed, and even bars and restaurants are struggling, and some have closed already.  The bars put in outside patios with a roof, but they have to remove the roof now.  Two movie theatres have also closed. It has broken up marriages.”
 
“I have lived in this town for 22 years, and it is sad to see what this is doing to people.”
 
“I know from nursing that there is no way to identify the specific cause of cancer, as each type is caused by many different things.  To me smoking bans are just another form of control,” says Reid quickly pointing out that Guelph has more laws than any other city in Canada.
 
“I will fight this as long as I live”

Reid is searching for help to support her continuing fight. Anyone who could advise her on specific legal aspects of constitutional challenges in Canada - “bearing in mind I am now broke, so lawyer’s fees are out of the question”- is asked to contact Reid.
 
Please show your support in any way you are able by contacting Diana Reid at fight4choice@hotmail.com