ManitobaAn outdoor summer event for hundreds of children in Winnipeg has been cancelled over health concerns about heavy wildfire smoke that’s caused poor air quality in much of the province.Environment Canada issues air quality warnings for most of ManitobaCBC News · Posted: Jul 31, 2025 12:40 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoPoor air quality forced the cancellation of an outdoor event organized for hundreds of children who attend BGC Winnipeg summer programming. They will now stay indoors on Thursday. (Submitted by Boys and Girls Clubs Winnipeg)An outdoor summer event for hundreds of children in Winnipeg has been cancelled over health concerns about heavy wildfire smoke that’s causing poor air quality in much of the province.Environment and Climate Change Canada issued air quality warnings on Thursday morning for most of Manitoba, advising people to limit their time outdoors and avoid strenuous activities.Over 600 children were scheduled to participate in an outdoor field games event in Winnipeg that was organized in a partnership between BGC Winnipeg (formerly Boys and Girls Clubs of Winnipeg) and the Canadian Tire Jumpstart charity.Because of the poor air quality in Winnipeg, the annual event was cancelled for the first time, organizers said. “We know that there’s going to be lots and lots of disappointed people. The kids, they look forward to [it].… Making the decision is always hard,” said Michelle Schmidt, a director of programming at BGC Winnipeg.”But at the end of the day, we have to think about safety first and people’s health first.”A water bomber drops a load on the Nopiming Provincial Park wildfire in May. Smoke billowing from wildfires has prompted Environment Canada to issue air quality warnings for most of Manitoba. (Government of Manitoba)The air quality health index in Winnipeg climbed to the “very high risk” 10+ level on Thursday morning, Environment Canada said. It is forecast to recede to 7 or “high risk” by Thursday evening.During heavy smoke conditions, everyone’s health is at risk, regardless of age or health status, Environment Canada said, but children, seniors and pregnant people are likely to be more impacted.BGC Winnipeg has been monitoring the alerts posted by the federal agency throughout the summer and established guidelines for when events can no longer be held outdoors to avoid putting people’s health at risk. With Thursday’s event cancelled, children will instead participate in indoor activities at the schools they have been attending as part of the CSI summer learning enrichment program.”We are lucky. We have facilities. We can still be inside, it just makes things a little more [of] a challenge,” Schmidt said. “Kids are a little bit more antsy because of being kind of cooped up.”Wildfire smoke has prompted the cancellation of at least two other outdoor events at the organization this week alone, Schmidt said. This summer, upward of 10 outdoor events have been cancelled due to poor air quality, she said.”I don’t recall it being [like] this … not this many days in a row in a short period of time,” Schmidt said. Environment Canada advises people under an air quality warning to keep windows and doors closed as much as possible. If you need to spend time outdoors, the federal agency recommends limiting it as much as possible, but even with reduced exposure, there can still be a risk to health, the federal agency said. People might experience eye, nose and throat irritation, as well as headaches. Environment Canada says people might also have more serious but less common symptoms, including wheezing, chest pains or severe cough. With files from Erin Brohman
Wildfire smoke forces hundreds of children inside after Winnipeg outdoor event cancelled
