I took a deep breath as I stepped onto the path circling Assiniboine Park, the morning haze hanging like a gauzy curtain across the skyline. A dozen or so runners passed by, some with masks pulled up over their noses, others seemingly unbothered by the air that carried the faint scent of distant wildfires.
“We’ve adapted,” said Marion Kehler, adjusting her running cap as she paused to chat. At 62, she’s been running these paths for nearly three decades. “Some mornings I check the air quality app before I even look outside my window. But I won’t give up my outdoor routine unless it’s absolutely dangerous.”
Across Winnipeg, residents like Kehler are finding creative ways to maintain their connection to outdoor fitness despite a summer marked by intermittent smoke advisories and air quality concerns. The phenomenon reflects a growing resilience among urban dwellers faced with climate-related challenges to their established wellness routines.
Environment Canada issued more than fifteen air quality advisories for Manitoba this summer, with Winnipeg’s Air Quality Health Index reaching “high risk” levels several times since June. The smoke, primarily from wildfires in northern Manitoba and neighboring provinces, has created a complex risk calculation for outdoor enthusiasts.
Dr. Neil Chakraborty, a respiratory specialist at St. Boniface Hospital, has seen an uptick in patients experiencing exacerbated asthma and respiratory complaints. “The particulate matter in wildfire smoke is particularly concerning because the fine particles can penetrate deep into the lungs,” he explained during our conversation at his office, where air purifiers hummed quietly in the background. “But I understand the mental health benefits of outdoor activity are significant too. It’s about finding that balance.”
The City of Winnipeg’s Parks and Recreation Department has responded by creating a network of what they call “clean air fitness zones” – designated indoor spaces opened during high-risk air quality days where outdoor fitness classes relocate temporarily. Three community centers now feature these zones, equipped with air filtration systems that maintain healthy indoor air quality.
Yet many Winnipeggers are determined to continue their outdoor regimens, making modifications rather than retreating entirely indoors. At Birds Hill Provincial Park, just outside the city, I met Kayla Henderson, who leads a weekly “sunrise yoga” group that’s grown from eight participants last summer to nearly thirty this year.
“We’ve become weather watchers and smoke trackers,” Henderson laughed, unrolling her mat on the damp morning grass. “We check forecasts the night before and decide whether to proceed outside or move to our backup indoor location. But there’s something powerful about people showing up in less-than-ideal conditions, about saying we won’t surrender our connection to nature entirely.”
That connection appears increasingly precious to many residents. The Winnipeg Trails Association reports a 34% increase in trail usage compared to pre-pandemic levels, despite the air quality challenges. Their volunteer-led air monitoring program now helps update trail users about conditions at popular outdoor fitness spots through a community-driven app.
“What we’re seeing is a kind of climate adaptation happening at the community level,” explained Anders Swanson, executive director of the Winnipeg Trails Association. “People are becoming more sophisticated in how they make decisions about outdoor activity. They’re learning to read the environment in ways previous generations didn’t need to.”
This adaptation takes various forms. Morning fitness activities have grown in popularity, as air quality typically worsens throughout the day during smoke events. Evening running groups have shifted their start times earlier. And a growing number of outdoor enthusiasts now carry portable air quality monitors that clip to backpacks or bikes.
Public health guidance has evolved too. Manitoba Health previously recommended simply avoiding outdoor activity during smoke advisories but has refined its approach to emphasize informed decision-making based on individual health status and the specific intensity of activities.
“We recognize telling people to just ‘stay inside’ isn’t realistic or even necessarily the best approach for overall health,” said Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief public health officer, during a July press conference. “We’re focusing on helping Manitobans understand when and how to modify their outdoor activities rather than abandon them entirely.”
For Winnipeg’s growing immigrant communities, this connection to outdoor spaces carries additional significance. At the weekly soccer meetup in Central Park, I watched as players from Syria, Ethiopia, and the Philippines gathered despite the visible haze.
“In my country, we played through everything – heat, storms, whatever came,” said Tariq Almasi, who arrived from Syria four years ago and hasn’t missed a Sunday game since. “This smoke, yes, it’s not good, but being together outside, playing our game – this is more important for our souls.”
Local businesses have responded to the new reality as well. Fitness equipment retailers report mask sales have quadrupled this summer, with specialized “sport masks” designed for heavy breathing during exercise becoming increasingly popular. Manitoba’s largest sporting goods chain now stocks air quality monitors alongside traditional fitness gear.
As I concluded my visit to Assiniboine Park, I watched a tai chi group moving slowly through their forms under the yellowed morning light, each participant wearing a mask but continuing their practice despite the less-than-ideal air. Their instructor, Wei Chen, summarized the spirit I’d encountered throughout Winnipeg.
“We respect the air, we protect our lungs, but we don’t hide from the world,” she said, her hands moving gracefully through the air. “The body needs movement, the spirit needs open sky. We find the middle path.”
That middle path – neither ignoring environmental hazards nor surrendering to them – seems to define Winnipeg’s relationship with outdoor fitness this summer. It’s a delicate balance, and one that more Canadian cities may need to navigate as climate realities reshape our relationships with the outdoors.
