Toronto students may soon find it harder to sneak a vape break between classes. This winter, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) will begin installing vape detectors in washrooms at four high schools — Victoria Park Collegiate Institute, Woburn Collegiate Institute, Etobicoke Collegiate Institute, and East York Collegiate Institute — as part of a new pilot program to curb the rising use of e-cigarettes among teens.
The detectors, which resemble fire alarms, can identify chemicals commonly found in vaping devices and send instant alerts to school staff when triggered. The initiative, funded by the Ontario Ministry of Education, is part of a $30 million, three-year investment to help school boards across the province install safety and monitoring equipment.
TDSB spokesperson Emma Moynihan said the pilot will launch in December after schools have been briefed and students educated about the program’s goals. The data collected will help determine whether the detectors effectively deter vaping and create safer washroom environments for students.
According to WeSecure CEO Mac Mokatre, whose company supplies detectors to other Ontario schools, the devices use AI-powered air quality sensors to detect the unique chemical and particle signatures of vapes, cigarettes, and cannabis. When activated, they send text or email alerts to designated school staff. The devices do not record sound or video to protect student privacy, though they can detect loud disturbances such as fights.
Some schools have paired the detectors with hallway cameras outside washrooms to identify students involved, while others have limited installation to high-risk areas. Mokatre noted that school administrators must balance effectiveness with privacy concerns and practicality.
The introduction of vape detectors comes amid what experts describe as an “epidemic of youth vaping.” A 2022 federal survey found that nearly one in three Canadian teens aged 15 to 19 had tried vaping, and one in seven reported doing so in the past month. University of Toronto public health expert Robert Schwartz said youth vaping surged because e-cigarettes were marketed as lifestyle products rather than medical aids to quit smoking. With their easy availability and enticing flavors, they quickly became addictive for young users.
While vaping is often perceived as safer than smoking, Schwartz warned that most e-cigarettes contain nicotine and can cause respiratory problems such as asthma and lung inflammation. “Whatever can be done that helps kids avoid these products is a good idea,” he said.
Parents have also voiced concerns about the issue. In 2022, families at a Scarborough high school urged administrators to install detectors, citing the intimidating atmosphere created by groups of students vaping in washrooms.
Evidence on the long-term success of vape detectors remains limited, but some Ontario schools have seen positive results. Almaguin Highlands Secondary School, north of Huntsville, reported a significant drop in vaping incidents after combining detector use with education about health risks in assemblies and science classes.
The TDSB’s director of education welcomed the province’s funding announcement in 2024, noting the board had requested such resources years earlier. Whether this pilot leads to wider adoption remains to be seen, but for now, Toronto teens might want to think twice before taking that next puff at school.