By Alex Coley

Harv’s Convenience creatively dodges problem with sign

May 9, 2017 | 4:22 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Harv’s Convenience on 22nd Street recently had to make a change to a sign that was displayed outside the store that read “cheap smokes” in big, black letters.

City bylaw officers paid owner Len Blackman a visit, saying that the sign was in violation of the Tobacco and Smoking Reduction Act. Section 7.2 of the act states that any business which sells tobacco products is prohibited from advertising them, unless all regulations are followed.

Blackman was left with two options: risk a hefty fine, or find a creative way to keep the sign up. He chose the latter, adding a single “I” after the “K” in the word “smokes.” Now anyone driving past Harv’s will see a big sign reading “cheap smokies.”

“I’m not here to argue with anybody else,” says Blackman. “I mean, I understand that bylaw enforcement has a job to do and everything else. I came out and looked at the sign and thought: there’s got to be something I can do to get around this, because I don’t agree with these bylaws on tobacco promotion in the first place.”

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Since making the small, yet significant change to his sign, Blackman has not been contacted by any bylaw officers since, as they no longer see any reason to worry.

“Now it’s not {advertising} cheap smokes, it’s cheap smokies,” says community peace officer Barri-Ann Hayward. “it totally comes into compliance, and we’re happy.”

In the meantime, Blackman continues to run Harv’s successfully, all the while taking great pride in the smokies.

“If you’ve ever tried our smokies, holy dina,” beams Blackman. “Fantastic. You know, you can pick yourself up a beautiful cheddar cheese smokie for five dollars and forty-five cents. Plus tax, of course.”