According to the NNSW website, tobacco is still the leading cause of disease and death in Canada, responsible for 37,000 deaths in the country every year. (iStock)

National Non-Smoking Week begins Monday with events planned across Canada to talk about the dangers of smoking cigarettes and strategies to quit.

Andrew Sprague is keen to share his experience with smoking for the Canadian Cancer Society's P.E.I. branch. He quit about five months ago.

Sprague said he hopes events this week encourage other smokers to quit as well.

"So the more you can encourage them, the more you can motivate them — through events like National Non-Smoking Week — the better," he said.

According to the NNSW website, tobacco is still the leading cause of disease and death in Canada, responsible for 37,000 deaths in the country every year.

Started in 1977, NNSW is one of the longest running health promotions in Canada.

This year's motto is "Live, work, play... even better smoke-free."