
Montreal air quality worst in the world due to wildfires in Prairies
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.
Heat warnings are also in effect in southern Quebec for Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.
Temperatures are expected to top 30 degrees C during the day and remain above 20 degrees C at night.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 26, 2025.

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Winnipeg Free Press
4 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Severe storm systems prompt emergency alerts
Severe storm systems to the north and south of Winnipeg prompted a series of emergency alerts late Wednesday afternoon, with Environment Canada warning of possible tornado conditions. Environment and Climate Change Canada released a bulletin at about 4 p.m. advising it was tracking severe thunderstorms with the potential to produce tornadoes north of Winnipeg, in the rural municipalities of Rockwood and St. Andrews. 'This is a dangerous situation that could cause fatal injuries,' the bulletin said. 'Take cover immediately if threatening weather is approaching. If you hear a rumbling noise or see a funnel cloud, debris swirling near the ground or flying through the air, or any threatening weather approaching, take cover immediately.' The national weather service later lifted those warnings but continued to monitor severe thunderstorms in the region, as well as in the RMs of Rosser, St. Clements and Macdonald. By 5:30 p.m., a tornado warning remained in effect for areas east of Winnipeg, where the most significant storm was tracking towards the Ontario border. The affected area included parts of East St. Paul and the community of Birds Hill, meteorologist Keane Kokolsky told the Free Press. Kokolsky said it was unclear whether the storm would carry the threat of tornadoes all the way to Ontario or whether its severity would diminish before then. He advised Manitobans to watch for further alerts and forecasts, and to heed any emergency warnings. Kokolsky said a tornado was confirmed to have occured on Tuesday night near Grande-Clairière in southwestern Manitoba, near the Saskatchewan border. No injuries or damage were reported, he said. Tyler SearleReporter Tyler Searle is a multimedia producer who writes for the Free Press's city desk. A graduate of Red River College Polytechnic's creative communications program, he wrote for the Stonewall Teulon Tribune, Selkirk Record and Express Weekly News before joining the paper in 2022. Read more about Tyler. Every piece of reporting Tyler 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.


Winnipeg Free Press
5 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Climate change antagonist of Week 9
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Earlier this season, in a Week 6 matchup between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Calgary Stampeders, there was a four-hour kick-off delay followed by a postponement due to heavy wildfire smoke in Regina. It was a frustrating and confusing night for players and fans, who were left in limbo while the league worked with its independent meteorologist system to determine a path forward. This isn't an easy problem to solve for a league with significantly fewer resources than the NFL. The CFL's primary focus will always be on player safety and the financial bottom line, which means fans might not get the kind of heads-up they'd prefer. The league has protocols in place for both lightning and air quality but, as we've learned, the situation can change by the minute. It's a delicate balance between providing a safe environment and delivering on a schedule that has a direct impact on revenue. 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The Redblacks' record of 2-6 is still far from ideal, but this win stops the bleeding and gives them something to build on. 2) In his first CFL start, P.J. Walker showcased both the good and the bad of his game. While his stat line — 273 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions — won't turn many heads, it doesn't tell the whole story. Walker was down a few top-end receivers, but the ones that did play dropped several catchable passes that would have easily pushed him over the 300-yard mark and made the game a lot closer. Walker showed flashes of his dual-threat ability and a strong arm, giving Stampeder fans a glimpse of his potential. With Vernon Adams Jr. expected back from his concussion, Walker will return to a backup role, but his performance created an intrigue for more. 3) It looks like the Blue Bombers have finally found their next elite returner in Trey Vaval. Since letting Janarian Grant walk a couple of years ago, the team has struggled to find a consistent threat on special teams. But in a rematch with the Toronto Argonauts, Vaval delivered a breakout performance that will have highlight reels busy for weeks. He scored two return touchdowns — a 93-yard kickoff and a 97-yard punt. Vaval seemed more relieved than anything in the locker room after the game. It was a rare but refreshing display of honesty that called to mind Jerry Rice's Hall of Fame speech, where he admitted the pressure of the game made him miserable. Vaval has now proven he belongs, and it will be exciting to see how he builds on this standout effort. 4) In another milestone moment for a future Hall of Famer, Bo Levi Mitchell surpassed Doug Flutie for ninth place on the CFL's all-time passing yards list. It was fitting that Mitchell did it in a vintage performance, engineering a late-game comeback that culminated in a third passing touchdown with under two minutes to play. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats' 28-24 victory wouldn't have been possible without some crucial mistakes from the Edmonton Elks, including a Cody Fajardo interception and a costly dropped pass by Kaion Julien-Grant in the end zone. The loss was a devastating blow for the Elks, who needed a win in the worst way. At 1-6, they may already be looking ahead to next year, while the Ticats, improving to 6-2, take sole possession of first place in the East. 5) Following the win, Mitchell had some high praise for Fajardo in his post-game address, saying the Elks pivot has been 'working his ass off' and is 'one of, probably, the most disrespected quarterbacks in the last couple of years.' It's a sentiment that rings true as Fajardo has long faced criticism, even after silencing his doubters with a Grey Cup win with Montreal in '23. While the Elks have fallen just short in both of his starts, Fajardo has undoubtedly injected life into the struggling club. It's easy to say now, but you can't help but wonder where the Elks would be right now if they had started the season with Fajardo as their number one option behind centre. His play has shown that he still has plenty of gas left in the tank. 6) It may be a bitter pill for some to swallow in these parts, but it's time to admit the Roughriders are the best team in the CFL. At 7-1, following a convincing road victory over the Montreal Alouettes, the Riders have proven their talent and depth across all three phases of the game. With the Stampeders losing again, Saskatchewan has created some much-needed breathing room atop the West Division. Graham Hughes / THE CANADIAN PRESS Saskatchewan Roughriders wide receiver Tommy Nield (left) celebrates his touchdown against the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday with his teammate Joe Robustelli. Graham Hughes / THE CANADIAN PRESS Saskatchewan Roughriders wide receiver Tommy Nield (left) celebrates his touchdown against the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday with his teammate Joe Robustelli. The Riders now head into a bye week, but a daunting schedule awaits them. They will face the Tiger-Cats and the Stamps again before the annual home-and-home series against the rival Bombers. It will be a truest test of their mettle but, so far, they've been up to the challenge. 7) The Alouettes are back to being in a tough spot with McLeod Bethel-Thompson at the helm. After taking a shot at the CFL on TSN panel following a decent performance the week prior, Bethel-Thompson and the Als' offence laid a massive egg at home against the Roughriders. To illustrate how bad things were, the Als got no further into enemy territory than the Riders' 46-yard line. Saskatchewan's defence was absolutely dominant, holding Montreal to a dismal 169 yards of net offence — the lowest total by a Saskatchewan opponent since 2017. Montreal's only points came from two long field goals of 56 and 54 yards. With Davis Alexander still sidelined for a few more weeks, the Als are lucky to have built up a winning record, as it might not last long if this offensive production continues. Jeff HamiltonMultimedia producer Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University's journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff. Every piece of reporting Jeff 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.


CTV News
5 hours ago
- CTV News
Tornado warnings issued in Manitoba
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