Outdoor programming across Golden Horseshoe cancelled due to low air quality

Outdoor programming across the Greater Hamilton Area has been cancelled Wednesday as smoke from forest fires in northwestern Ontario has reduced the local air quality.

Air quality warnings were put into place from Thunder Bay east to Kingston and southeast to Niagara Falls, as several First Nations communities north of the western part of Lake Superior are under mandatory fire evacuation orders.

The City of Burlington

The City of Burlington has temporarily cancelled outdoor city pools and outdoor recreation programs until conditions improve.

Wednesday’s Concerts in the Park programming with Fiddlestix has been rescheduled for Sept. 2.

City summer camps will continue to operate with modified programming, with staff taking appropriate precautions and moving activities indoors where possible.

While outdoor splash pads remain open, residents are encouraged to consider limiting outdoor activities until the air quality improves.

Niagara Region

The Niagara Falls Fireworks program has been paused in response to the ongoing situation, and will remain paused until air quality conditions improve.

The City of St. Catharines has also closed its pools and sports fields, cancelling outdoor events for Wednesday including the Summer Concerts at Montebello Park.

The Lakeside Park Carousel has also been closed.

Outdoor pools in Niagara-on-the-Lake have been closed, and an open-air burning ban is in place until further notice.

In Thorold, the Thorold Minor Baseball and Thorold Soccer Club games and practices scheduled for Wednesday have been cancelled.

The weekly community market will also not run this week, and the Thorold Community Pool has been closed.

The Grimsby Lions Community Pool is closed for the remainder of Wednesday, and the evening swim lessons have been cancelled.

In Lincoln, both the Allan F. Gretsinger and Jordan Lions outdoor pools are closed as of 3 p.m.

READ MORE: Air quality warnings spread across Golden Horseshoe as wildfires burn in northwestern Ontario