Wildfires are changing how we experience the summer. After several years of intense wildfire seasons, 2026 got off to a rough start. 

There are still wildfires burning this year. BC was hard hit, but it was not alone. Elevated fire risks emerged in parts of northern, central and eastern Canada. 

Governments clearly recognize that the risks are growing. Public warnings are becoming more frequent and emergency preparedness efforts continue to expand. 

Importantly, smoke doesn’t stay local. It spreads across provinces and territories and can affect people living hundreds or thousands of kilometres away from active fires. In fact, it is becoming increasingly common for faraway cities to be blanketed with smoke several times per year. These pressures are also colliding with existing urban air quality concerns, like traffic pollution and roadway construction. Together, these conditions are reshaping the environments Canadians live and work in. 

When we think about smoke exposure, we usually think about the outside air. To mitigate that risk, we may check the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) warnings before going outside, or........

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