Latest news with #CFL
CTV News
2 hours ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Riders looking to rebound against Lions
Regina Watch WATCH: The Saskatchewan Roughriders defence had its worst outing of the season last game – and is now looking for payback. Jacob Carr explains.
Hamilton Spectator
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Peters, Harris and B.C. offensive line earn CFL weekly honour roll selections
TORONTO - Hamilton Tiger-Cats cornerback Jamal Peters, Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris and the B.C. Lions offensive line earned top honours Tuesday in the CFL's weekly honour roll. Peters was the top defensive player, earning a grade of 90.9 both overall and in coverage snaps in Hamilton's 23-20 win over Ottawa. Peters had two tackles and two interceptions — his third career game with multiple picks — to solidify the Ticats' third straight victory. Harris was the top offensive player, registering a grade of 87.9 in Saskatchewan's 24-10 loss to Calgary. Harris completed 36-of-44 passes for 425 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. The Lions' offensive line had a grade of 64.6 for its play in B.C.'s 32-14 win over Edmonton. The unit's top three performers were Jarell Broxton and Ilm Manning (both 73.0) and Chris Schleuger (62.9). Broxton earned the top individual honour among offensive linemen. The CFL honour roll highlights players in nine positions based on data points registered and compiled by Pro Football Focus, an American sports analytics company. The other individual winners included: B.C. running back James Butler (85.1); Saskatchewan receiver Joe Robustelli (86.1); Calgary defensive lineman Jaylon Hutchings (79.5); Edmonton linebacker Nick Anderson (82.1); Ottawa returner Kalil Pimpleton (78.8); Stampeders punter Mark Vassett (73.9) and Roughriders special-teams player Jaxon Ford (84.6). This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 15, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Why the Sask. Roughriders postponed, but other sports played on: how air quality indexes work
Saskatchewan Roughriders fans who headed to Regina's Mosaic stadium Friday had a rough night, sitting through rounds of delays and ultimately the postponement of the game more than three hours after the scheduled kick-off time. While the Riders postponed, other sports in Saskatchewan played on, despite much of the province being blanketed in wildfire smoke last weekend. Experts say there is no single rule for making decisions to postpone or cancel sporting events due to air quality, and specific leagues have different health guidelines. "Different sports require different amounts of huffing and puffing and exposure time," said Madeline Orr, an assistant professor of sport ecology at the University of Toronto whose research focuses on how climate change impacts sports. "Depending on the sport, depending on the exposure time, depending on how old the people are, these are all factors that should be considered. There is no one standard policy," Orr said. She said the Canadian Football League has air pollution guidelines, but no rules. Sports should be stopped as soon as the air becomes unsafe for people with sensitive conditions and wildfire smoke is particularly dangerous, Orr said. With various air quality indexes available, and as wildfire smoke becomes an increasingly common health risk, here's what often goes into the decision to play or not — and how to make sense of air quality indexes when making your own decisions. The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is run by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and used widely across the country. It is meant to rate the health risk of three types of dangerous contaminants in the air on a one-to-10 scale — the higher the number, the greater the risk. "It helps individuals make a judgment call around the air quality that they are breathing," said Céline Audette, manager of health and air quality forecast services at ECCC. Any rating of five or higher means at-risk people and those with pre-existing conditions should consider heading inside, she said. At seven, the general population should take precautions. At 10, everyone is at risk and exposure could cause health effects, Audette said. While other air quality indexes measure the concentration of specific pollutants in the air, the AQHI is based on epidemiologists' estimation of "the likely impact of that level of the pollution on the population," said Amir Hakami, an environmental engineering professor at Carleton University in Ottawa. He works on air quality models similar to the one ECCC uses to create the AQHI. The ECCC's national air pollution surveillance program uses more than 130 stations across Canada to measure air pollutants every hour. A model is then used to predict what the air quality and the corresponding health rating would be at areas not being tested. Experts say even a few metres can make a measurable difference in air quality safety, because of things like airflow and pollutant sources. For example, if you are standing immediately next to a car's exhaust, the air will be very different than if you were standing a few metres upwind. There are also different formulas for measuring air quality. If you see a scale going higher than 10, it is likely a traditional air quality index measuring the specific level of pollutants. The United States primarily uses a one-to-500 scale, applying a colour code to signify health risks. Canada calculates health risk differently, focusing on slightly different pollutant categories. "The air quality indexes that are used in the States are usually based on regulations" and not necessarily "health impacts," Audette said. She said Canada's index uses "the best science available." Wildfires create particles in the air that are so small they can only be seen with a microscope and are easily inhaled. The smoke falls into a pollutant category called PM2.5, or fine particulate matter that measures less than 2.5 micrometres. "You can breathe it in, it can settle into your lungs and even cross the cellular level and go into your brain," Audette said. "This particle is toxic at any concentration." She said wildfire smoke requires you to act quickly. Stations across Canada started measuring air quality every hour in 2024 because of the wildfires. Previously, the tests were done every three hours. In Prince Albert, about 315 kilometres northwest of Mosaic stadium, the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup tournament continued Friday night and through the weekend. Tournament co-chair Ian Litzenberger said the weather was great and it was a "perfect weekend for ball." Litzenberger said that when wildfire smoke started rolling in, officials and the on-site medical director used air quality documentation from both Softball Canada and Softball Saskatchewan to make a call about continuing. He said they used multiple air quality indexes, including ECCC's. None of our air quality levels ever surpassed what the documentation recommended, Litzenberger said.
CBC
7 hours ago
- Climate
- CBC
Why the Sask. Roughriders postponed, but other sports played on: how air quality indexes work
Social Sharing Saskatchewan Roughriders fans who headed to Regina's Mosaic stadium Friday had a rough night, sitting through rounds of delays and ultimately the postponement of the game more than three hours after the scheduled kick-off time. While the Riders postponed, other sports in Saskatchewan played on, despite much of the province being blanketed in wildfire smoke last weekend. Experts say there is no single rule for making decisions to postpone or cancel sporting events due to air quality, and specific leagues have different health guidelines. "Different sports require different amounts of huffing and puffing and exposure time," said Madeline Orr, an assistant professor of sport ecology at the University of Toronto whose research focuses on how climate change impacts sports. "Depending on the sport, depending on the exposure time, depending on how old the people are, these are all factors that should be considered. There is no one standard policy," Orr said. She said the Canadian Football League has air pollution guidelines, but no rules. Sports should be stopped as soon as the air becomes unsafe for people with sensitive conditions and wildfire smoke is particularly dangerous, Orr said. With various air quality indexes available, and as wildfire smoke becomes an increasingly common health risk, here's what often goes into the decision to play or not — and how to make sense of air quality indexes when making your own decisions. What is the 'Air Quality Health Index' The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is run by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and used widely across the country. It is meant to rate the health risk of three types of dangerous contaminants in the air on a one-to-10 scale — the higher the number, the greater the risk. "It helps individuals make a judgment call around the air quality that they are breathing," said Céline Audette, manager of health and air quality forecast services at ECCC. Any rating of five or higher means at-risk people and those with pre-existing conditions should consider heading inside, she said. At seven, the general population should take precautions. At 10, everyone is at risk and exposure could cause health effects, Audette said. While other air quality indexes measure the concentration of specific pollutants in the air, the AQHI is based on epidemiologists' estimation of "the likely impact of that level of the pollution on the population," said Amir Hakami, an environmental engineering professor at Carleton University in Ottawa. He works on air quality models similar to the one ECCC uses to create the AQHI. The ECCC's national air pollution surveillance program uses more than 130 stations across Canada to measure air pollutants every hour. A model is then used to predict what the air quality and the corresponding health rating would be at areas not being tested. Why different indexes can have different numbers Experts say even a few metres can make a measurable difference in air quality safety, because of things like airflow and pollutant sources. For example, if you are standing immediately next to a car's exhaust, the air will be very different than if you were standing a few metres upwind. There are also different formulas for measuring air quality. If you see a scale going higher than 10, it is likely a traditional air quality index measuring the specific level of pollutants. The United States primarily uses a one-to-500 scale, applying a colour code to signify health risks. Canada calculates health risk differently, focusing on slightly different pollutant categories. "The air quality indexes that are used in the States are usually based on regulations" and not necessarily "health impacts," Audette said. She said Canada's index uses "the best science available." Wildfire smoke prompted ECCC changes in 2024 Wildfires create particles in the air that are so small they can only be seen with a microscope and are easily inhaled. The smoke falls into a pollutant category called PM2.5, or fine particulate matter that measures less than 2.5 micrometres. "You can breathe it in, it can settle into your lungs and even cross the cellular level and go into your brain," Audette said. "This particle is toxic at any concentration." She said wildfire smoke requires you to act quickly. Stations across Canada started measuring air quality every hour in 2024 because of the wildfires. Previously, the tests were done every three hours. Softball tournament continued in Prince Albert In Prince Albert, about 315 kilometres northwest of Mosaic stadium, the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup tournament continued Friday night and through the weekend. Tournament co-chair Ian Litzenberger said the weather was great and it was a "perfect weekend for ball." Litzenberger said that when wildfire smoke started rolling in, officials and the on-site medical director used air quality documentation from both Softball Canada and Softball Saskatchewan to make a call about continuing. He said they used multiple air quality indexes, including ECCC's. None of our air quality levels ever surpassed what the documentation recommended, Litzenberger said.
CTV News
8 hours ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Contingency plans unclear for 2026 World Cup wildfire smoke risks
Mosaic Stadium before CFL football action between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Calgary Stampeders in Regina, on Friday, July 11, 2025. The game was delayed due to poor air quality. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu While some organizations have published clear air quality thresholds or contingency protocols for wildfire smoke, FIFA's plans remain unclear less than a year out from the 2026 World Cup. A day after Toronto's air quality was among the worst in the world, the organizing committee for the World Cup in Canada declined to reveal guidelines for postponement or air-quality-related contingencies with FIFA. No policies are posted publicly. The World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026 in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Canada will stage 13 games — seven in Vancouver and six in Toronto. The Air Quality Health Index rating for Toronto was over 10, or 'very high risk,' on Monday morning, dropping to a 'high risk' rating of 8 by late afternoon. In the CFL, meanwhile, games can't be played when the AQHI surpasses a threshold of seven, according to an agreement with the players. CFL stadiums are also equipped with air-quality sensors to provide real-time readings. The CFL postponed the Saskatchewan Roughriders-Calgary Stampeders game in Regina from Friday night to Saturday afternoon this past weekend due to air quality issues, as wildfires from northern Saskatchewan pushed the AQHI above 10. Dr. Howard Shapiro, Toronto's associate medical officer of health, said in a statement that Toronto Public Health is actively reviewing the latest evidence and best practices for air-quality issues as the city prepares to host the World Cup. 'TPH may provide guidance and recommendations on public health risks, including environmental health concerns such as extreme weather and wildfire smoke,' the statement read. 'This includes contingency planning to support the health and safety of residents, visitors, and participants during the tournament.' Canada recorded its most destructive wildfire season in 2023, with more than 6,000 fires burning 15 million hectares of land, according to Natural Resources Canada. This year's fire season, according to government data, is the second-largest on record. Dr. Andrew Halayko, a professor of physiology and pathophysiology at the University of Manitoba, calls an AQHI above 10 a 'no-brainer' for postponing sporting events. Halayko also believes outdoor activities on days when the AQHI rises higher than 7 should be rescheduled due to health concerns, even if it's just cheering on your favourite team from the stands. Environment Canada says that wildfire smoke is more likely to affect individuals who are 65 or older, pregnant, young children, and those with existing health conditions or work outdoors. 'In the interest of general safety, you defer to the most vulnerable,' Halayko said. 'And in that case, anything above 7 or higher should be rescheduled because, I know people are autonomous and should be able to make their own health choices, but sometimes you have to help and provide guidance.' Other experts say it's difficult to pinpoint exactly when the air quality reaches a threshold where sporting events should be cancelled. 'I personally think that we can't, based on good evidence, have general statements about what AQHI is unacceptable for a given event. Everything is contextual,' said Dr. Christopher Carlsten, the head of the respiratory medicine division at the University of British Columbia. Carlsten explained that context includes the age of the general audience and the forecast of the air quality, and said that events should be judged on a case-by-case basis. Greg J. Evans, a chemical engineering professor at the University of Toronto, said people need to make their own decisions based on whether they're at risk. 'If I had tickets to the World Cup match and it was yesterday, I would have gone,' said Evans, whose research specializes in air pollution. 'However, if I were a more vulnerable individual, I might decide not to go. 'To cancel the game for everybody, I think that's a very difficult decision to make.' Evans added that not enough is known about the health impacts of single exposures, such as a few hours at a sporting event, and that more concern is warranted for repetitive and long-term exposures. Halayko argued that wildfire smoke disrupting sporting events will only increase in the future due to climate change. 'The effects on our environment that we are experiencing today that are worse than they were 10 years ago and will probably be worse in 10 years from now, we're not talking about one-off events,' he said. 'It's a cumulative thing.' The impact of poor air quality on athletes is also a subject of debate. Some schools of thought believe athletes can better handle poor air conditions because they are generally young and healthy, making them less likely to sustain long-term health impacts. However, Michael Brauer, a professor at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Medicine, said that studies show that even low levels of pollution impact cognitive ability — which not only affects performance but also increases the risk of injuries. 'Imagine two players going up for a pass at really high speeds, and if you make one tiny error, that could be a career-threatening injury,' he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 15, 2025.
