ManitobaSmoke from wildfires is blanketing most of Manitoba and prompting extremely poor air quality on Friday.Air quality health index soared from Level 3 to ‘very high risk’ level of 10+CBC News · Posted: Jul 11, 2025 10:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours agoThe Winnipeg skyline is under a haze of smoke on Friday morning. (Rudi Pawlychyn/CBC)Smoke from wildfires is blanketing most of Manitoba and prompting extremely poor air quality on Friday.Environment Canada issued a warning for people in much of the province to limit time outside and to reschedule or cancel outdoor sports, activities and events.The air quality health index soared from a Level 3 (low risk) to a “very high risk” 10+ level overnight in Winnipeg and is expected to stay at that level through the day.The smoke coming from the mass of northern fires in the province has been driven south by a shift in winds.Air quality warnings or special air quality statements cover almost all of the province, save for the extreme north.”During heavy smoke conditions, everyone’s health is at risk regardless of their age or health status,” Environment Canada’s warning says.Last month, when similar conditions occurred, it forced the cancellation of numerous activities and performances, including school field trips, powwows and Shakespeare in the Ruins’ opening night of Macbeth.The Manitoba High School Athletic Association also cancelled the provincial track and field provincial championships.The Winnipeg Folk Festival, which started Thursday and runs until Sunday, has no intentions yet to pause anything.”We are aware of the high index on air quality this morning, however we are proceeding as planned,” an email to CBC News from the festival said Friday.”We will be updating attendees regularly of any changes to the air quality, programming and for anyone at the festival to take necessary precautions. We will update attendees through social media, the app and on site.”The 50th edition of the annual event features 68 artists and is expected to draw at least 13,000 people daily.
Wildfire smoke creates extremely poor air quality in Manitoba
