Smoky skies expected to blanket Toronto Friday, possibly into long weekend
CBC
Smoky skies are expected to blanket Toronto once again Friday and potentially linger into Canada Day on Saturday.
Environment Canada says smoke plumes from forest fires in northeastern Ontario and Quebec have once again returned to Toronto, prompting a special air quality statement for the city.
The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) — the reporting system Canada uses to reflect potential health effects associated with air pollution — currently sits at six out of 10, representing a "moderate risk." The agency is expecting the air quality to reach a "high risk" at level seven throughout Friday, but dip to a five on Saturday.
"We're still stuck in it unfortunately," said Environment Canada meteorologist Gerald Cheng, who noted conditions are expected to slowly improve for much of southern, eastern and central Ontario. But improvements are still temporary in nature, he said.
"Wildfires are still burning. And so if we cannot extinguish that source, we still need to watch where the smoke generated goes."
Environment Canada said that people with health conditions like asthma or heart disease are at higher risk, as are pregnant women, older adults, children and people who work outdoors.
It advises people to stop or reduce their level of activity if it becomes uncomfortable to breathe or if they feel unwell, and to contact a health care provider if severe symptoms arise.
The smoke comes days after the city's AQHI maxed out at 10 on Wednesday. Around that time, according to the international air quality tracker IQAir, Toronto had the worst air pollution of any location in the world.
The city has been experiencing high levels of air pollution due to wildfires at various points throughout this past month.
As of Friday, there were more than 100 forest fires burning in Quebec, according to the Société de protection des forêts contre le feu (SOPFEU). In Ontario, there were 68 active wildfires in the northeast and northwest of the province, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Thousands of Muslims in Winnipeg gathered Friday at various locations to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
The spring sitting of the P.E.I. Legislature will prorogue for a second time — but this time just by a day.
Two years after an Edmonton man sustained fatal injuries while on shift at a northern Alberta pulp mill, workplace safety charges have been laid in his death.
About 30 properties in the Fraser Valley are under evacuation alert as the atmospheric river pummeling B.C. increases flood and landslide risks in several parts of the province.
WARNING: This story references allegations of child abuse.
Police say it was a 67-year-old Chatham man who died while scuba diving at the Erieau marina on Wednesday morning.
Enmax declared its lowest dividend, to be paid to the City of Calgary, in four years in its 2025 financial results.
Rilee Willianen says the City of Thunder Bay has received wide-ranging feedback about its plans to create designated encampment sites.
The Ontario government is planning to outlaw sky-high ticket resale prices, according to a news release.
As March break comes to an end, there are lots of fun events happening on the weekend in Waterloo region, Guelph and Wellington County.
Yukon RCMP are renewing their plea for public help in the investigation into an unsolved 2023 double homicide near Mayo.
Thousands of Muslims in Calgary will mark the end of Ramadan by celebrating Eid al-Fitr on Friday, bringing to a close a month of worship, reflection and fasting.
Dozens of people walked through downtown London Wednesday night shining candles in honour of a First Nation’s woman found dead in the city last month, while also calling for increased awareness about missing and murdered Indigenous peoples.