LifestylE Cig Inc. - Whyte Ave

General information

I smoked for 15 years of my life - a pack a day religiously. As my best friend, tobacco cigarettes never left my side. Like many, I started in high school and never looked back. I was a third generation tobacco smoker. These are the events of my life that brought me to choose my alternative.

One day I heard about electronic cigarettes making a come back. Then I came to realize they never did go away in the first place. You have to understand my first experience with an electronic cigarette was in 2005. I found this device at a small retailer in Sherwood Park Alberta. It was very expensive to start and the device was not efficient at all in producing vapour or battery life. I had purchased a kit for my brother and myself. It amazingly worked incredibly well! I found myself 2 weeks in and not lighting another cigarette. I was amazed at my own results and my brother's progression. I went back to load up on cartridges and units for other friends. When I found out it was no longer available, I didn't even think twice - I went back to my "Best Friend".

Four years later, when my incredible father passed away at 65 to Cancer, I said I gotta try and stop. I lied to myself. I smoked even more because it was my friend and was always there. I want you to have a realistic picture of how passionate I was about tobacco smoking.

I told my loving wife that I am trying to leave tobacco smoking in the past. I lied. When our first child was born, I would be outside having a cigarette and when I could hear my daughter wake up, I'd run inside wash my hands and think "I'm good right? I don't stink of filth and nothing could harm my baby girl". I hid my habit from everyone's eyes.

Two years later, we found out we were expecting our second child. I told myself this is it. It's time make it happen! I did the obvious choices - gum and the inhaler. This was what I thought was a great idea at the time but turned into a mess. I used the gum and inhaler one time and found I had a sever side effect. I almost hiccuped myself to death. I mean seriously, I felt as though my throat was going to launch into my lap. Although funny at the time, it made me look desperately for another option before using big pharma products.

I found an option that came as gift from a friend. I got a simple EGO-C kit and a bottle of ejuice. Again success! It truly started to work after only three days. I was again amazed! Once my unit died after two weeks, I came to find high quality units made by some incredible manufacturers. I got my first legit kit which worked extremely well. I found myself purchasing kits for my family and friends. It truly was the best gift I could offer anyone. I found that overtime, I wasn't constantly out of breath. Even simple things like running up stairs became easier and running after my now 2 year old wasn't a gasping challenge. I threw out hundreds of dollars worth of stinking clothes. I found I truly hated the taste of tobacco. I have love for strawberry menthol and I'm an adult who can enjoy flavor. I made a choice!

By the grace of God, I live in a country where I have a choice to make. Maybe if my father and my grand parents had such an alternative available to them, they would still be alive today. My passion for this product has turned into a personal mission. I want to give people the same options I was given. Especially in an industry that has organizations such as ECTA that has the capability and aptitude to provide guidance and insight around implementing regulations and policies to ensure that there is peace of mind and freedom of choice for all consumers. We are in a generation where people can speak up and voice their opinion and if they are not heard there is recourse. Please direct your stories to your MLA's and federal officials. You can locate your mla with this link -

www.parl.gc.ca/parlinfo/compilations/houseofcommons/memberbypostalcode.aspx?menu=hoc

I encourage all of you to make your voice heard.