Coquitlam Teacher Vaping Case Sparks Debate Over School Rules

A Coquitlam teacher faced public discipline for something most people would consider private: taking a quick vape in a staff washroom. The Coquitlam teacher vaping incident, according to the BC Commissioner for Teacher Regulation, resulted in a three-day suspension without pay and a public reprimand. The backlash was divided between “rules are rules” and “who cares.”

The case has stirred debate about what really matters in schools: protecting student health, preserving professional standards, or policing adult choices. Beneath it all lies a question that affects anyone working in a rule-heavy environment. When does policy protect, and when does it overreach?

What Happened To The Coquitlam Teacher Vaping In School

In 2024, a Grade 1 teacher in School District 43 (Coquitlam) was disciplined after vaping in a staff washroom attached to her classroom, according to the regulator’s published summary. The teacher did not vape directly in front of students, but the behavior still violated both district and provincial policies.

The BC Commissioner for Teacher Regulation found that her actions breached professional conduct standards. The teacher accepted the findings, received a three-day suspension without pay, and a public reprimand was issued. The case quickly became a talking point online about whether the punishment matched the act.

What The Law Says In BC Schools

BC’s Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act prohibits using or holding an activated e-cigarette in or on school property. The ban applies to everyone: students, staff, and visitors, and covers buildings, parking lots, and even vehicles on site.

The law also holds school boards and administrators responsible if vaping occurs under their supervision unless they can show they took reasonable steps to prevent it. School District 43’s Administrative Procedure 171 enforces the same rule. All district property, vehicles, and events are smoke and vape-free zones.

The rule leaves little room for discretion. But is it always fair to treat a quiet vape the same way as lighting a cigarette in class?

The Science vs the Stigma Around Vaping

Vaping is not harmless, but it also is not the same as smoking, and that is where public opinion splits. Authoritative reviews from the U.S. National Academies and summaries from the CDC report that e-cigarette aerosol generally contains fewer toxic chemicals than cigarette smoke, yet can include fine particles, nicotine, and trace carbonyls.

Indoors, those particles can build up temporarily before dissipating. For most adults, this level of exposure is unlikely to cause harm, but for children or people with asthma, even small irritants matter. To date, there is no evidence that passive vaping causes nicotine addiction, but health agencies advise precaution in shared indoor air.

How It Compares To Cigarette Smoke And City Air

Cigarette smoke lingers. It coats walls, fills lungs, and contains thousands of carcinogens. Vape aerosol disperses faster and carries far fewer toxins, but it still adds measurable particles to indoor air.

Traffic emissions in Vancouver can raise PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide near busy roads above typical indoor background levels, depending on location and time. The difference is scale. Traffic pollution is chronic and largely unavoidable, while indoor vaping is brief and entirely preventable.

Why Schools Choose Zero Use Indoors

Schools apply a simple rule: if it adds pollutants to shared indoor air, it does not belong inside. The safest way to protect students and staff is to remove the source. Provincial law leaves no gray area. Vaping on school grounds, at any time, by anyone, is prohibited.

There is also the matter of example. Teachers are expected to model lawful and health-conscious behavior. Even if students never see it, vaping at work can erode the idea that everyone follows the same rules. For districts, consistency is key to maintaining trust.

The Bigger Question – Health Rule Or Optics?

For some, the Coquitlam case feels excessive. After all, most people breathe worse air standing beside a bus stop than from a faint puff in a staff washroom. But schools run on optics as much as safety. They are designed to model what is healthy, responsible, and legal.

Secondhand vape aerosol may not be deadly, but it still conflicts with that message. In the end, this case is not about whether vaping itself is dangerous. It is about how institutions balance personal freedom with public accountability and whether those rules, however strict, are worth defending.

What To Know If You See Vaping On School Grounds

In BC, vaping anywhere on school property is prohibited under the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act. The rule applies 24 hours a day and covers staff, students, visitors, and contractors.

Reports can be made directly to the principal or the school district office. Enforcement can include administrative penalties or workplace discipline. The simplest takeaway: vape anywhere off campus, but never on school grounds at any time of day.

Sources: BC Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act; School District 43 Administrative Procedure 171; BC Commissioner for Teacher Regulation; CDC and U.S. National Academies reviews on e-cigarette aerosol.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not legal advice.