The Durham Catholic vape sensors success is becoming increasingly evident as the Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) reports a noticeable decline in vaping incidents across its secondary schools.
The board is currently in the second year of a three-year rollout plan to install vape detection sensors in student washrooms, along with surveillance cameras positioned outside these areas. According to school officials, the technology is already making a strong impact where it has been introduced.
Education leaders say the sensors are helping reduce vaping by acting as both a deterrent and a tool for fair discipline. Paula Sorhaitz, superintendent of education for student services and safe and healthy schools, highlighted how the presence of sensors has shifted student behaviour significantly.
At All Saints Catholic Secondary School, the announcement of vape detectors during a school assembly was met with unexpected enthusiasm from students. Sorhaitz described the reaction as a “collective relief,” suggesting many students were supportive of efforts to reduce vaping in shared spaces like washrooms.
The Durham Catholic vape sensors success is also reflected in discipline data. Schools that installed the sensors during the 2024–2025 academic year have reported a significant decrease in office interventions related to vaping. Instead of reacting to incidents, administrators are now seeing the technology function as a preventative measure.
Sorhaitz explained that the sensors provide objective, bias-free evidence, allowing school staff to address violations more effectively while also opening conversations with students about the health risks associated with vaping. This approach is helping shift the focus from punishment to education and prevention.
Student leaders have also voiced strong support for the initiative. Ololade Aje, a student trustee at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School, said the feedback from students across the board has been overwhelmingly positive. Many students expressed relief that vaping in washrooms has decreased, improving the overall school environment.
Several schools have already implemented the technology, including All Saints, Notre Dame, Monsignor Paul Dwyer, St. Mary, and Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School. The remaining two secondary schools — Archbishop Dennis O’Connor and Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School — are expected to receive the sensors and camera systems by the end of the next school year.
The Durham Catholic vape sensors success highlights a growing trend in schools adopting technology-based solutions to address student health and safety concerns. With vaping continuing to be a concern among youth across Ontario, initiatives like this are being closely watched by other school boards.
By combining monitoring tools with education and prevention strategies, the DCDSB is aiming to create safer and healthier school environments. Early results suggest the approach is working, with both staff and students noting clear improvements.
As the rollout continues, the board expects even greater reductions in vaping incidents, reinforcing the effectiveness of the program across all secondary schools in Durham Region.
