Canadian Teens Use the Web to Butt-Out!
Big Orbit Joins the Crusade for Smoking Cessation in Youth

Toronto, ON - September 25, 2000 - As the issue of Smoking Cessation in Young People becomes an increasingly relevant topic, Big Orbit has joined the fight by creating two teen anti-smoking and tobacco awareness sites for an alliance of several high-profile Canadian organizations.

Big Orbit is proud to present www.smoke-fx.com, sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Health in partnership with the Canadian Cancer Society, Kingston FL&A Health Unit, Simcoe County District Health Unit and Toronto Public Health. As well, Big Orbit has produced a teen smoking section for the Simcoe County Board of Health found on their site at http://www.simcoehealth.org/ which will link to the larger www.smoke-fx.com community.

For each site, Big Orbit was responsible for the creative concepts and branding, strategic site planning, graphic design and programming, as well as input into the teen-friendly copy.

Because of the sensitive nature of the topic, Big Orbit sought advice and commentary from teens themselves when naming and designing www.smoke-fx.com. The objective was to create a site that appealed to teens with a message beyond being simply "good for you."

According to Shannon Whaites, Big Orbit's Senior Designer, "The interface on www.smoke-fx.com captures the severity of the topic through intense photography and stressed type to convey what teens themselves have to say. The content is presented against a series of stained backgrounds - a parallel between ashes and dirt on a clean page."

Both www.smoke-fx.com and the supplementary site for Simcoe County will allow Ontario teens to communicate with each other, as well as have easy access to a number of Canadian and international resources on the subject of tobacco and teen smoking cessation. The message being sent to teens through these initiatives is that they have the right to make an informed decision about their bodies and their health, and to fight back against tobacco companies.

Founded in 1991, Big Orbit - New Media Studios is one of Canada's leading content developers for youth-oriented communications. Big Orbit's dedication to creating cutting edge online products will extend to further international new media efforts on teen health. Visit the company web site at http://www.bigorbit.com or call Sean Bittle, CEO, at (416) 516-0705 ext.229 sbittle@bigorbit.com.