Smoke in Toronto prompts air quality warning
Toronto is experiencing poor air quality due to wildfire smoke drifting south from northwestern Ontario. The city has responded by closing outdoor pools and moving youth programs indoors, though some outdoor events are proceeding as planned.
Why it matters
The event highlights the increasing frequency of climate-related health hazards affecting major urban centers in North America.
An orange haze washed over Toronto’s skyline on Wednesday as wildfire smoke drifted into the region, leaving Toronto with some of the worst air quality in the world on Wednesday.
An air quality warning, an orange alert, is in effect for the city as smoke from forest fires in northwestern Ontario moves south.
Here are the key developments on Wednesday:
The city says all of its outdoor pools and wading pools will be closed tomorrow, July 16.
Meanwhile, CampTO programs will be running with outdoor activities moved indoors. Field trips are cancelled.
The city adds other outdoor registered programming tomorrow will either be cancelled, postponed, or moved indoors where possible.
City-run child care centres will remain open and operate indoors.
A concert at RBC Amphitheatre, an outdoor venue along the waterfront, is going ahead despite the air quality warning.
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