logo
Manitoba Stampede in Morris goes on despite air quality risk

Manitoba Stampede in Morris goes on despite air quality risk

MORRIS — Amid hazy skies and a severe air quality warning blanketing most of the province, the Manitoba Stampede & Exhibition raced ahead with its events, despite the risk wildfire smoke poses to competitors and animals.
In front of a nearly sold-out crowd all weekend, cowboys and cowgirls competed in chuckwagon racing, bareback riding and steer wrestling while smoke from wildfires raging in northern Manitoba hung in the air above the grandstand in Morris.
'If it got bad enough, we take the welfare of the stock primarily into concern: the cowboys. competitors, everybody,' Mike Bellisle, president of the Valley Agricultural Society, said on Sunday afternoon.
Danae Tonge, an organizer with animal rights group Manitoba Animal Save, said the decision not to cancel the Manitoba Stampede & Exhibition while Manitoba is under a severe air quality warning was irresponsible and puts animal's health at risk. (Submitted)
'It's one of the contingencies we never considered … we've never dealt with it before.'
On Friday, Environment Canada issued a special air quality statement warning much of Manitoba would have poor air quality throughout the weekend, owing to wildfire smoke.
On Sunday afternoon the air quality health index value in Morris was at 10, which Environment Canada considers a very high risk to health.
Brad Vrolijk, a lead forecaster at Environment Canada, said when the air quality index is that high people and animals should do whatever they can do avoid being outdoors.
'It's not pleasant for anybody,' he said. 'There's lots of outdoor events this weekend, so I recognize there's a lot of things people want to do … be inside if you can.'
Bellisle said the stampede was playing things by ear in terms of how bad the smoke got, but with a south wind they were hoping it would blow away within a few hours.
The stampede has contingency plans for most inclement weather, but this was their first rodeo in dealing with smoke.
Bellisle said he did not consider cancelling the event because of the air quality warnings.
'We had our debrief this morning and our prepping meeting, and there was no discussion about it other than it's hazy,' he said.
The stampede follows the Canadian Pro Rodeo Association's guidelines for animal husbandry and it has vets on site to assess animal health.
'If they came and said, 'You need to shut down,' we'd shut down immediately,' he said.
Other official bodies have guidelines on cancelling events due to air quality.
In its guidelines, the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba recommends horse racing be cancelled if the air quality index is 10 or above. That recommendation from the provincial regulator has led to cancellations at Assiniboia Downs in the past.
Multiple events had to be cancelled across Manitoba on Sunday over the smoky air.
On Sunday morning the Sail West regional championships in Gimli cancelled its competition owing to wildfire smoke.
The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra postponed its Summer Series concert which was due to be held outdoors at Le Patio 340 in St. Boniface.
Health Canada says there's no known safe level of exposure for some pollutants in wildfire smoke and it can impact health even at very low levels.
Kathleen Parks was at the stampede Sunday afternoon as part of her trip to Manitoba from Nova Scotia to visit family.
She didn't consider not attending due to wildfire smoke.
'We bought our tickets and we were going to come either way,' she said. 'We didn't even think about (the smoke).'
Danae Tonge, an organizer with animal-rights group Manitoba Animal Save, called the decision to move ahead with the weekend's events in Morris irresponsible.
'The animals being forced to exert themselves in this air quality warning is dangerous and inhumane,' she said.
Horses, cattle, calves and other rodeo animals being pushed to exert themselves in smoky air increases the strain on their respiratory and cardiovascular systems, according to Tonge.
'We also know that rodeos self-report animal injuries and deaths, so this information isn't easily obtained by the public, which is a concern,' she said.
Tonge and about 25 others protested outside the rodeo on Saturday, as they have every year since 2018, calling for an end to the annual event.
'We had one person come up to us during the protest and tell us that some of the animals, dogs and sheep, appeared to be 'weathered.' That was the term they used, and when we asked further, we were told the animals seemed to be having a tough time with the weather,' she said.
Bellisle said animal welfare is top of mind for rodeo organizers and if the smoke got worse, they would postpone the competitions.
No animals had been pulled from events owing to respiratory issues as of Sunday afternoon, according to Bellisle.
Cancelling an event like the stampede is not as easy as postponing a sporting event or concert, Bellisle added.
Riders from across Canada and the United States travel for the competition and about one million dollars' worth of livestock participate in the three-day event.
'It would throw a whole lot of behind the scenes,' he said. 'When you have an event planned, you can't move it. The date is the date, and that's it.'
Tuesdays
A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world.
Contingency plans for air quality will be part of the stampede's emergency plan moving forward, Bellisle said.
'It's just not something we've ever had to deal with. I know it'll come up during our next meeting with the steering committee and we want to do what's right,' he said.
Smoke across the Red River Valley is expected to dissipate and conditions will improve by Monday night, but the relief will be short-lived, Vrolijk said.
A weather system moving in from Saskatchewan is expected to push smoke eastward, but by mid-week a cold front will bring smoke back to the region.
nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca
Nicole BuffieMultimedia producer
Nicole Buffie is a multimedia producer who reports for the Free Press city desk. Born and bred in Winnipeg, Nicole graduated from Red River College's Creative Communications program in 2020 and worked as a reporter throughout Manitoba before joining the Free Press newsroom in 2023. Read more about Nicole.
Every piece of reporting Nicole produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Montreal air quality ranked worst in the world due to Prairie wildfire smoke
Montreal air quality ranked worst in the world due to Prairie wildfire smoke

Globe and Mail

time2 hours ago

  • Globe and Mail

Montreal air quality ranked worst in the world due to Prairie wildfire smoke

Smoke from wildfires in the Canadian Prairies has led to air quality warnings across southern Quebec. Swiss company IQAir this morning ranked Montreal as having the worst air quality in the world. Environment Canada has issued warnings that recommend limiting time spent outdoors. It says people with existing health conditions, seniors, pregnant women, infants and young children should avoid strenuous outdoor activities this weekend. Wildfire concern differs widely across Canada, poll shows Heat warnings are also in effect in southern Quebec for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Temperatures are expected to top 30 C during the day and remain above 20 C at night.

Heat, thunderstorm and air quality alerts: What's in store for Canadians this weekend
Heat, thunderstorm and air quality alerts: What's in store for Canadians this weekend

CTV News

time2 hours ago

  • CTV News

Heat, thunderstorm and air quality alerts: What's in store for Canadians this weekend

Weather advisories in effect in different parts of Canada. (Environment Canada) Residents of Quebec and Manitoba can expect a sweltering start to the weekend as Environment Canada warns of extreme heat and humidity in parts of the country. The weather advisory posted on Saturday says southern Quebec can expect temperatures over 30 C and a humidex of around 40 from Sunday afternoon through Tuesday. 'It will be particularly uncomfortable at night,' the weather advisory warns, with temperatures remaining higher than 20 C. Areas in southern Manitoba are under a similar warning for Saturday, with humidex values of around 38 in the afternoon. 'Conditions are expected to improve with the passage of a cold front overnight Saturday night,' Environment Canada says. Health Canada has issued an advisory for how to protect yourself from the health effects of extreme heat. Meanwhile, warnings of severe thunderstorms 'capable of producing nickel to ping pong ball size hail' have been issued for parts of Ontario. The weather advisory also warns of winds gusting 90 km/hand heavy rains. Impacted areas include Cat Lake, Casummit Lake, Birch Lake, Whitestone Lake, Kapikik Lake, Gitche Lake, Maxim Lake, McCoy Lake, Nikip Lake and Senia Lake. Air Quality Warnings Environment Canada continues to issue air quality warnings for regions in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories. Wildfire smoke is causing poor air quality and reduced visibility in these areas through the weekend, the weather alert says. 'Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour,' it reads. Residents are advised to avoid outdoor activities, reschedule or cancel outdoor events, keep their doors and windows closed and use a respirator-type mask like a NIOSH-certified N95 or equivalent to reduce exposure to smoke. More information about the effects of wildfire smoke can be found here.

Montreal ranks as most-polluted city in world Saturday as wildfire smoke chokes Quebec
Montreal ranks as most-polluted city in world Saturday as wildfire smoke chokes Quebec

Montreal Gazette

time3 hours ago

  • Montreal Gazette

Montreal ranks as most-polluted city in world Saturday as wildfire smoke chokes Quebec

Montreal recorded the worst air quality in the world Saturday morning, according to the IQAir index, which ranks the most-polluted cities on the planet. It comes as thick smoke from wildfires in the Canadian Prairies settled over southern Quebec. Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a special air-quality advisory for large parts of the province, including Montreal, Estrie, Lanaudière, Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec. The agency warned everyone — regardless of age or health — is at risk during periods of dense smoke. 'Limit time outdoors,' the notice said. Those with pre-existing health conditions, older adults, pregnant women, infants and young children are especially vulnerable and should avoid strenuous outdoor activity. Officials say wearing an N95 respirator can help reduce exposure to fine particles. Residents are also advised to protect indoor air by using clean, high-efficiency filters in their ventilation systems. Air quality is expected to improve gradually throughout the day. Forecasts show the AQI moving from the 'unhealthy' range in the morning to 'moderate' levels by late afternoon and evening. Heat warnings are also in effect for parts of southern Quebec, including Montreal, Laval, the Laurentians and Montérégie. Temperatures are expected to exceed 30 C through Tuesday, with humidex values nearing 40 on Sunday. Overnight lows will remain above 20 C, making for particularly uncomfortable nights. 'In cases of extreme heat and poor air quality, the priority is to stay cool,' Environment Canada said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store