A new University of Calgary study has found that the number of days Calgary experiences poor air quality due to wildfire smoke has increased by 40% since 2015, with significant health consequences for children, seniors, and people with respiratory conditions.
The peer-reviewed study, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, analyzed 10 years of air quality monitoring data alongside hospital admission records and found a direct correlation between wildfire smoke events and spikes in emergency department visits for asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cardiovascular events.
A Growing Threat
"What was once an occasional summer nuisance has become a recurring public health crisis," said lead researcher Dr. Amanda Liu. "In 2023 and 2024, Calgary experienced more than 30 days of degraded air quality from wildfire smoke. That’s not normal, and our health system is feeling the effects."
The study found that during smoke events, emergency department visits for respiratory complaints increased by an average of 22%, with the most severe impacts in the northeast quadrant of the city, where higher population density and fewer tree canopy cover create conditions the researchers describe as "heat-smoke vulnerability zones."
Climate Connection
The researchers attribute the trend directly to climate change, noting that Alberta’s wildfire season has expanded by an average of 27 days compared to the 1990s. Warmer, drier conditions and earlier snowmelt are creating longer periods of fire risk.
Alberta Health Services said it has updated its smoke-response protocols, including expanded distribution of N95 masks through pharmacies and community centres. The City of Calgary is also piloting a network of clean-air shelters — public buildings equipped with enhanced filtration — that can be activated during severe smoke events.
"We can’t stop the fires, but we can prepare our communities to weather the smoke," said Calgary’s chief resilience officer, Patti Pon. "This is the new reality we’re adapting to."