I stepped outside my hotel in downtown Winnipeg last Tuesday and the acrid smell hit me immediately. The sky—a surreal orange-brown—cast an apocalyptic glow across the city. Walking half a block to grab coffee, my eyes stung and throat tightened. When I returned to my room, the smell had followed me, clinging to my clothes and hair.
“We’ve had bad fire seasons before, but nothing quite like this,” said Marianne Klassen, a postal worker I met while sheltering in a café as the air quality index spiked above 300. “They’ve pulled us off our routes for the third time this month.”
Canada Post confirmed yesterday that mail delivery has been suspended across much of Manitoba as wildfire smoke from northern blazes continues to smother Winnipeg with dangerous air quality. The suspension marks the seventh service interruption this season, the most in recorded history according to Environment Canada.
The fires burning across northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan have created unprecedented conditions, forcing vulnerable workers indoors and straining healthcare resources. Winnipeg has experienced 19 days of air quality warnings since May 1, nearly triple the previous record set in 2023.
“The smoke concentration we’re seeing is beyond anything in our historical data,” explained Dr. Navdeep Singh, pulmonologist at Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg. “We’re seeing a 43% increase in emergency department visits for asthma, COPD exacerbations, and heart issues compared to the same period last year.”
For outdoor workers, this summer has become an ordeal of impossible choices. Beyond postal workers, construction crews, landscapers, and city maintenance staff face dangerous conditions nearly daily.
Marcus Desjarlais, a 49-year-old landscaper, told me his company hasn’t provided respirators despite the hazardous conditions. “I’ve got bills to pay, but my chest hurts every night. My supervisor says it’s just part of summer now.”
The smoke’s impact extends beyond physical health. Local businesses report dramatic drops in foot traffic, and community events have been repeatedly cancelled or moved indoors. The Forks Market, typically bustling with summer tourists, stood nearly empty when I visited Wednesday afternoon.
The current smoke crisis represents the culmination of several trends scientists have been tracking for years. Climate data from the Prairie Climate Centre at the University of Winnipeg shows the region warming at nearly twice the global average, creating drier conditions and longer fire seasons.
“What we’re witnessing is climate change playing out in real time,” said Dr. Lisa Jorgensen, climate scientist at the University of Manitoba. “The boreal forest is experiencing unprecedented drought conditions, and when fires start, they burn hotter and spread faster than historical norms.”
For Indigenous communities closer to the fire zones, the impacts are even more severe. Several northern First Nations have been evacuated to Winnipeg, creating additional strain on emergency services.
Elder Thomas Beardy from God’s Lake First Nation has been staying at a downtown hotel for nearly three weeks. “Our traditional territories are burning,” he told me, his voice heavy. “The medicines, the hunting grounds—this isn’t just about inconvenience. It’s about our way of life.”
The smoke emergency has sparked heated political debate. Manitoba Premier Davis Chartrand announced emergency funding yesterday for additional fire suppression resources and air purifiers for schools and community centers. However, opposition leaders criticized the measures as inadequate, pointing to budget cuts to forest management programs in 2023.
Health authorities have issued clear guidance: limit outdoor exposure, use HEPA air purifiers indoors, and wear N95 masks when outside. But these measures remain inaccessible to many vulnerable Winnipeggers.
At the West Broadway Community Organization, I met volunteers distributing masks and portable air purifiers to seniors and low-income residents. “People living in apartments without air conditioning face impossible choices,” explained volunteer coordinator Jasmine Tran. “Open windows and breathe smoke, or keep them closed and risk heat illness.”
Research published last year in the Canadian Medical Association Journal suggests wildfire smoke exposure is associated with increased mortality even at lower concentrations than previously thought. Children, elderly people, and those with pre-existing conditions face the highest risks.
Dr. Singh emphasized that the health impacts will likely extend beyond the immediate crisis. “We’re concerned about long-term respiratory and cardiovascular effects, particularly for those repeatedly exposed to these conditions summer after summer.”
As I prepared to leave Winnipeg yesterday, flight delays mounted as visibility at the airport dropped below safety thresholds. The terminal filled with frustrated travelers, many wearing masks even indoors.
Sitting beside me, elementary school teacher Morgan Williams scrolled through weather forecasts on her phone. “My students have had outdoor recess cancelled for two weeks straight,” she sighed. “They’re asking if this is just what summer is now. I honestly don’t know what to tell them.”
The forecast offers little immediate relief. Environment Canada predicts continued smoke conditions through the weekend, with possible improvement early next week if predicted rainfall materializes over the fire zones.
In the meantime, Winnipeggers wait, watching the skies and hoping for clear air—a new normal that feels anything but.
