Our region is known for its crisp, fresh mountain air. It is not only something we get to enjoy every time we walk outside, but also a resource that is vital to our health, and the health of generations to come.
The Provincial Government of B.C. defines "good air quality" as clear, clean and unpolluted air.
Air Quality Advisories
Air quality advisories are posted when pollutant concentrations approach or exceed predetermined limits, or when degraded air quality episodes are expected to worsen. When smoke from wildfires infiltrates a region, for example, an Air Quality Advisory may be issued.
Click here to check out all active advisories
We will post on our website and social media if and when an advisory is issued for any part of the SLRD.
Air Quality Health Index (AQHI)
The AQHI provides hourly air quality readings, and is available for about 80 percent of B.C. residents (you can view the full list of areas here).
The rating is based on the combination of health risks posed by a mixture of pollutants in the air, including particulate matter, ground-level ozone and nitrogen dioxide.
The rating then assesses whether the health risk is low, moderate, high or very high.
Click here to check out the rating for your area
What Else Can You Do?
To make sure our air stays fresh, we recommend examining the emissions from everyday activities like driving your vehicle, doing yard maintenance and heating your home..
One of the most important things you can do to improve indoor and outdoor air quality is to make sure that any woodstoves are EPA-certified low emission appliances. The SLRD administers a Woodstove Exchange Program in partnership with the Sea to Sky Clean Air Society, made possible through funding from the B.C. Lung Association and the B.C. Ministry of Environment.