Wildfire smoke forces cancellation of some Thursday outdoor activities in GTA
Several outdoor activities and events scheduled for Thursday in the Greater Toronto Area have been cancelled due to continued poor air quality brought on by smoke from wildfires.
A special air quality statement remains in effect for Toronto as smoke from forest fires in Quebec and northeastern Ontario has resulted in high levels of air pollution.
Environment Canada said poor air quality will persist into the weekend.
As a result, the City of Toronto has cancelled some of its outdoor recreation programs for Thursday.
"Other programs were able to be modified and moved indoors," the city said. "City sport fields, baseball diamonds and parks remain open and available. Toronto Public Health recommends organizers of outdoor sporting events consider air quality when making decisions about holding or modifying events."
The city has also suspended outdoor activities at its Toronto Early Learning & Child Care Centres.
The city added that Toronto History Museums have cancelled all outdoor programming until the special air quality statement is lifted, while St. Lawrence Market is reviewing its outdoor programming.
Woodbine Entertainment has announced that both thoroughbred and standardbred racing at Woodbine Racetrack and Woodbine Mohawk Park on Thursday have been cancelled.
"This decision is consistent with the advice Woodbine has received from veterinarians, medical practitioners, and other racing officials, including the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)," the group said in a statement.
"Woodbine will continue to monitor the situation and weather forecasts to determine whether it will proceed with live racing on Friday, June 9."
Meanwhile, the Toronto District School Board also said that recess will be held indoors.
"We will continue to monitor the Air Quality Health Index and follow advice from Environment Canada and/or Toronto Public Health and provide further updates, as required," the board said in a statement on Wednesday.
"TDSB schools and sites will also continue to ensure that HEPA air filter units are being used where possible."
The board said a decision regarding Friday's outdoor activities will be determined on Thursday.
Several GTA schools made similar moves, adjusting their outdoor activities in response to the deteriorating air quality.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
What is a 'halal mortgage'? Does it make housing more accessible?
The 2024 federal budget announced on April 16 included plans to introduce “halal mortgages” as a way to increase access to home ownership.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.
Mookie Betts leads Dodgers past Blue Jays 4-2; Toronto drops fifth consecutive game
Mookie Betts went 3 for 5, including a triple and an RBI single, as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 on Saturday.