Hours after the Calgary Stampeders said the football club was “closely monitoring the air quality conditions” Monday, the CFL said a pre-season game against the Edmonton Elks would go ahead after a slight delay.
In a statement issued shortly before noon, the league said a decision was made to start the game at 2:30 p.m. instead of 2 p.m. “due to additional time needed to monitor the air quality and to ensure both teams have ample time to warm up.”
“The decision to delay the game in consideration of the weather protocol was made by the league, both competing teams and the CFLPA,” the CFL said.
“The league will continue to monitor the situation leading up to and during the game.”
Much of Alberta has been blanketed with smoke for days as a result of the dozens of wildfires that continue to burn across the province. As of Sunday afternoon, Alberta Wildfire said 10,678 people across the province remain out of their homes because of evacuation orders triggered by wildfires.
“The health and safety of our players, staff and fans are of the utmost importance to us,” the Stampeders said in a tweet posted about the air quality concerns after 8:30 a.m.
According to data tracked by the World Air Quality Index, a non-profit project that collects information from air-monitoring stations around the globe, Alberta had the worst air quality in the world on Sunday.
As of 8:30 a.m., Environment Canada’s website said Calgary’s air quality was rated at 10 on the air quality health index, considered “high risk.”
The Elks and Stampeders’ scheduled game on Monday Is to be the first pre-season match for each club in 2023. Both teams have moved multiple practices indoors this month because of wildfire smoke.
The Stampeders’ practice session on Thursday was put off until the afternoon until air quality improved.
“We’re not going to dwell too much on what we missed,” the Stampeders’ head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson said at the time.
“We’re confident we can get enough in. I always feel like I’m going to miss a day or two. It used to rain a lot in May. Doesn’t seem to be that way anymore.”
— with files from Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press