CFL, Roughriders monitoring air quality in Regina ahead of tonight's game
The wildfire smoke blanketing the air in Regina could cause a delay in the Saskatchewan Roughriders pre-season game on Friday night.
Article content
Article content
At 2:30 p.m., the Roughriders issued a statement saying: 'Per league policy, the air quality at Mosaic Stadium is being actively monitored by the CFL and will continue to be throughout game day. At this point, we do not expect any delays to kickoff, but will provide updates as required.'
Article content
Article content
Saskatchewan is scheduled to host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in CFL pre-season action with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
Article content
While the Air Quality Health Index near Regina was at a 2 (low risk) throughout the early morning, the index increased to a 4 (moderate risk) at 10 a.m. before being upgraded to a 7 (high risk) at 1 p.m.
Article content
By 2 p.m., the air quality index rose to a 10+ (very high risk), which is the highest level on the scale.
Article content
Environment Canada is forecasting the air quality to continue to be at 10+ into Friday night and Saturday morning, with projections showing the index will be downgraded to a 10- (high risk) by Saturday night.
According to the CFL, each stadium is equipped with 'multiple air quality sensors that provide real-time readings at the venue.' The league says that if the Air Quality Health Index reaches 8 of above (as per official metrics provided by Environment Canada), during warmup or at any point throughout the game, the game will automatically be stopped and teams will head to their dressing rooms.
Article content
Article content
Article content
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
20 minutes ago
- CBC
Port Williams, N.S., soccer player gets star treatment at Canada's practice in Halifax
Port Williams, N.S., soccer player Jacob Shaffelburg was the star attraction Tuesday night as Canada's men's national team held an open training session in Halifax. Brothers Grady and Eben Hollis, who travelled from the Annapolis Valley with their family, were among the estimated 2,500 people who turned out to welcome Shaffelburg home as the squad made its first appearance at the Wanderers Grounds. "Just seeing him playing and scoring goals — it's a little different than just somebody from Canada," said Grady, 17. "I like that he's the same position as me and we shoot with both of our feet," said Eben, 8. Both boys were wearing Canada jerseys sporting Shaffelburg's name and his number 14, as were many of the fans throughout the crowd. "Growing up, I never would have imagined this kind of situation, so to have all my family and my wife's family here to support me is amazing," Shaffelburg said after the session. The 25-year-old has become an important part of the national team, adding speed to the attack and scoring some key goals in big games. Tuesday's session was part of the team's training camp in Halifax prior to upcoming matches against Ukraine and Ivory Coast, in preparation for the 2026 World Cup that Canada is jointly hosting with the United States and Mexico. The session was a relaxed affair and players interacted with fans throughout the event before signing autographs and posing for photographs afterward. Shaffelburg, who also plays for Major League Soccer club Nashville, provided as many as 80 tickets for family and friends to be in the crowd. "To come home and have community support and everyone here, I know it means a lot to Jacob and it certainly means a lot to us as a family. There are a lot of people here who have had a lot to do with his development," said his mom, Linda Shaffelburg. Marvin Messom is proud of how his grandson is representing Port Williams, a village about 95 kilometres northwest of Halifax. "I don't know where he got it, but he never got the speed from me," Messom joked. "I don't know, but he's got the speed and he just got the natural touch." The national team partnered with the Halifax Wanderers to stage Tuesday's event. "Halifax now I think is one of the top cities in the country for supporting soccer," said Derek Martin, the Wanderers founder and president, pointing to the Canadian Premier League team's consistent sellouts, the emergence of the Halifax Tides professional women's team in the Northern Super League, and the Canadian women's national team game that Halifax hosted in 2023. "Having these guys here today and selling 2,500 tickets just to have people come and watch a practice" is further evidence, Martin said. While it was a special night for Shaffelburg, he said he is staying grounded and focused on the year ahead. "Just being humble, remembering where I'm from and trying to make Port Williams and Nova Scotia super proud," he said.
CBC
24 minutes ago
- CBC
Quebec ombudsman calls for reforms over lengthy death certificate wait times
Quebec's ombudsman released a report and recommendations on Wednesday following its investigation into the long wait times for processing death certificates with the provincial agency that registers marriages, births and deaths in the province. The 32-page report shows that an increase in deaths, change in workflows, outdated information technology systems, staffing shortages and delays due to administrative costs were among the main factors behind extensive wait times. The ombudsman's office launched the investigation after the office received more than 700 complaints alleging unreasonable delays in processing death certificates between May and August 2024. That's seven times the amount of complaints it receives on average per year, according to the report. The investigation marks the third intervention the office has made since 2018 with the provincial agency, known in French as the Directeur de l'état civil (DEC), due to delays in processing death certificates, ombudsman Marc-André Dowd said at a news conference Wednesday. "When the DEC imposes delays on citizens that complicate the settlement of an estate, the administrative issues can cause anxiety for bereaved families," Dowd said. "This is not just about access to a document; it's a difficult time in people's lives. They have to deal with complex procedures while coping with grief and distress." Wait times for receiving a death certificate peaked in July 2024 when delays ranged from 66 days for files that were complete at the time of submission and 85 days for those that were missing information. In November of 2024, the DEC made a commitment on its website to limit delays to 20 working days — a target Dowd said is acceptable. The ombudsman made a total of 11 recommendations to redress delays in services. The first two recommend that the DEC develop by Oct. 31 a plan for addressing the expected increase in demand for death certificates and come up with a contingency plan. According to the report, the DEC speaks of its agility and versatility, but it doesn't provide "any concrete action plan or a number of requests beyond which appropriate measures must be taken." The report noted that the agency experienced intermittent connectivity issues that caused data loss. However, the DEC is in the process of migrating its network to the Employment Ministry's and will be automating some tasks and updating applications to improve service. With the provincial death rate trending upward, Dowd said on Wednesday that the agency should adjust its tools and workflows based on the available projections.
CBC
27 minutes ago
- CBC
Losing her voice taught Melanie Fiona to speak up for herself
When Melanie Fiona lost her voice in 2012, she was completely terrified. She had just won two Grammys, she was touring with massive names like Alicia Keys and Kanye West, and suddenly her biggest source of creative expression and income was gone. She was burned out, and her body was forcing her to quit. "It really made me take a pause and say, 'Wow, you're just going on autopilot'," Fiona says in an interview with Q guest host Talia Schlanger. "And that put me on the path of learning to say no, for your well being." After years of constantly performing and recording, Fiona realized she was neglecting her personal life. Her success was often at the cost of not only her health, but also her time with the people she loves. "It was a whirlwind of excitement…. Every time another level was achieved, it was just like, 'Is this really happening? Is this my life?'," Fiona remembers. "But it comes with a lot of sacrifice…. I think about the birthday parties that I missed with my family, celebrations, anniversaries, my grandmother's funeral in that time." Melanie Fiona says her break gave her some much-needed space to get in touch with her spirituality, start a family, and begin living her life with mindfulness and gratitude. "It was the awakening I needed to think about my life holistically, and not just as a career-driven person," says Fiona. "It's, 'Who do I wanna be in this world? How do I want to make people feel? What do I want to create that's gonna bring more inspiration and healing to myself and others?'... In retrospect, the journey is perfect." Fully recharged from her hiatus, Melanie Fiona is unleashing her powerful voice once again on her new EP Say Yes. She's ready to affirm what's possible again, without putting herself aside. " It's a mantra that I want people to consider for themselves. Like, 'What is on the other side of saying yes?'," Fiona explains. "Because you've done the work, to deserve that right to say yes in a free space.… And that's the space I made it in. In joy, and freedom, and happiness." WATCH | Official lyric video for Mona Lisa Smile: Melanie Fiona says her fans are happy to see her return to her classic R&B roots, and she's excited for new fans to discover her too. "It's just been nothing but positive," says Fiona. "I just love that people still want to hear more from me. And I love that it's also a reminder for new people, who are discovering the project and me as an artist, that there's a whole catalog to discover and it's good. "And it's stood the test of time," Fiona says. "I'm so grateful.… I still get to do what I love, with a full scope of having a life now." The full interview with Melanie Fiona is
