London's air quality 'high risk' Wednesday as forest fire smoke blankets region
CBC
The City of London has cancelled outdoor programming scheduled for Wednesday as air quality in the city worsens.
London's air quality is at high risk levels for people with respiratory issues as smoke from forest fires in northern Ontario and Quebec continues to hang over the region.
Environment Canada anticipates the air quality will deteriorate Wednesday, with air pollution levels reaching level 10, or the highest level on the index, across the day.
All city-operated grass soccer fields, baseball diamonds and cricket pitches are closed and rentals for those facilities have been cancelled, according to a statement released by the City of London.
Community centres and library branches will remain open.
The smell of smoke and reduced visibility could not be ignored on Tuesday night and early Wednesday, with some Londoners on the streets wearing masks for protection.
The Middlesex-London Health Unit warned people to put a pause on strenuous outdoor activity and to be especially cautious if suffering from a respiratory problem. It was a message reiterated by other health units Wednesday.
"Wildfire smoke can harm health, even if you cannot smell it. Symptoms of smoke exposure can include sore or watery eyes, runny nose, eye irritation, coughing, and headache," said Southwestern Public Health in a statement.
The smoke first made an appearance in the region Tuesday afternoon with some sports teams cancelling practice out of an abundance of caution.
"Organizations may consider rescheduling outdoor athletic activities and events depending on the vulnerabilities of their participants," said the Middlesex London Health Unit in a statement Wednesday.
The Thames Valley District School Board said outdoor activities would continue as normal with teachers and students asked to monitor their symptoms. It said windows and doors in schools should be kept closed where possible.
Environment Canada said it expects the air quality in southwestern Ontario to begin to improve Thursday and into the weekend.
Do you have a good photo of the smoke that you'd like to share? Email it! Londonnewstips@cbc.ca
Please include the first and last name of the person who took the photo and the location.
Moving to Canada from Singapore meant losing close social connections for Iris Akbar, but Akbar says the gift was in finding an affirming space with friends that became like family.
Women and children staying at Regina Transition House now have access to Santa’s workshop — a safe space where mothers can choose Christmas gifts for their children.
A man from Powell River, B.C., is thankful to be alive after a stranger helped him while he was choking at a restaurant during a visit to Whistler.
When it comes to Hamilton readers' favourite library books of 2025, romance and mysteries are in close competition.
From the Detroit Lions losing to Apple iPhones that spontaneously update, Windsorites had things that bugged them this year.
Calgary emergency rooms are “in a state of critical overcapacity” ahead of the anticipated peak of flu season — and to cope with the surge and wait-room crowding, officials are urging doctors to speed up their decisions on whether to admit patients, according to a memo obtained by CBC News.
Northern Ontario's highway system needs improvements in order to make travel safer, a highway safety advocate said.
Hundreds of thousands of used tires are piling up across Ontario as some companies responsible for tire recycling have stopped processing tires amid reduced provincial recycling regulations for tire producers, industry experts say.
People in Guelph facing homelessness will soon have a new place to go during the day.
Islanders are reminded to plan their rides ahead of holiday festivities if they plan on drinking alcohol or using cannabis.
Even before Gwen Healey Akearok began her new role as Nunavut’s Minister of Family Services, she was tuning into the Office of the Auditor General’s (OAG) hearings on the state of the Family Services department.
The racial reckoning of the COVID era saw Canada grapple with its checkered past — a process that led to statues of some foundational figures being removed, in some instances by force.
Holiday traditions are front and centre for many people at this time of year. But one Uxbridge family's Christmas tradition goes above and beyond the standard Christmas carols or holiday party.