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 Hamilton

The City of Hamilton closed all outdoor pools as of 4 p.m. Wednesday, and will reopen once the air quality warning is lifted. Wild Waterworks was also closed due to the poor air quality on Thursday.

Several recreation centres offer regularly scheduled drop-in indoor swimming, which can be found on the city’s official website here.

Forge FC said in a statement that it is closely monitoring the air quality ahead of Thursday’s match against Pacific FC.

Kickoff at Hamilton Stadium is currently scheduled to proceed at 7 p.m., but is subject to change.

Halton Region

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.

Oakville Fire’s Summer Splash event at Wynten Park has now been cancelled rather than postponed.

Thursday’s Sunset Social concert at the Oakville Museum will be moved indoors

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.

The Town of Oakville has cancelled its outdoor recreation programs for both Wednesday and Thursday, including Super Playgrounds, Instructional Tennis and outdoor swimming lessons.

Oakville staff say credits will be issued to all registrants of cancelled classes or programs, and residents may cancel outdoor bookings for those days without penalty.

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.

St. Catharines is closing outdoor pools and sports fields as well as cancelling outdoor events on Thursday including outdoor swimming lessons, outdoor recreation and aquatic programs as well as the Lakeside Park Carousel.

Thursday’s Supper Market in Fort Erie has been cancelled.

The city welcomes anyone looking to beat the heat to the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre.

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