Month: May 2024

Fort Air Partnership has a new name. Effective May 14, the organization responsible for monitoring the air quality in the Industrial Heartland and surrounding area, is called Heartland Air Monitoring Partnership.

The new name was chosen to better represent the range of communities and counties served by the Airshed. These include but are not limited to: Bon Accord, Bruderheim, Elk Island National Park, Fort Saskatchewan, Gibbons, Josephburg, Lamont, Newbrook, Redwater, Thorhild and Waskatenau.

The new Heartland Air Monitoring Partnership (HAMP) name is also intended to make the Airshed’s key air monitoring role clearer to residents.

“Our primary role is to monitor and report on air quality where people live, making this information available  to all residents and stakeholders within  our borders in an open and transparent way,” said Nadine Blaney, HAMP’s Executive Director. “We’re here for anyone who wants to know what the air quality is like. Over time we hope our new name and brand will help communicate these values as clearly as possible.”

Heartland Air Monitoring Partnership will appear first on digital channels, and more gradually on physical station signage over the longer term.

Heartland Air Monitoring Partnership monitors the air quality in a 4,500 square kilometre region northeast of Edmonton that includes Alberta’s Industrial Heartland. Continuous data is collected 24 hours a day, seven days a week and generated through a live data feed accessible to anyone who visits www.heartlandairmonitoring.org. HAMP air quality monitoring and reporting is guided by a scientific advisory group and driven by national and provincial standards.    

Issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, Alberta Health, Alberta Health Services:

Special air quality statement issued for:

• Strathcona Co. near Ardrossan and Cooking Lake, Alta.
• Beaver Co. near Tofield, Alta.

Special air quality statement continued for:

• Smoky Lake Co. near Vilna Saddle Lake and Whitefish Lake, Alta.
• Westlock Co. near Westlock and Clyde, Alta.
• Sturgeon Co. near Legal and Mearns, Alta.
• Sturgeon Co. near Morinville Volmer and Big Lake, Alta.
• Thorhild Co. near Thorhild Opal and Radway, Alta.
• Sturgeon Co. near Bon Accord Gibbons and Namao, Alta.
• Sturgeon Co. near Redwater, Alta.
• Lamont Co. near Bruderheim Lamont and Peno Creek, Alta.
• Lamont Co. near Andrew and Wostok, Alta.
• Lamont Co. near Mundare Chipman and Ukrainian Village, Alta.
• Smoky Lake Co. near Smoky Lake and Waskatenau, Alta.
• Co. of Two Hills near Willingdon and Hairy Hill, Alta.
• Fort Saskatchewan and Nrn Strathcona Co., Alta.
• Elk Island Nat. Park, Alta.
• City of Edmonton – St. Albert – Sherwood Park, Alta.

From the statement:

“Wildfire smoke from northeastern British Columbia is causing poor air quality and reduced visibility. Conditions are expected to improve over eastern parts of the province tonight while other regions will see some improvement by Sunday afternoon. Over northwestern Alberta conditions are likely to remain poor through Monday or possibly Tuesday.

Wildfire smoke can be harmful to everyone’s health even at low concentrations. Everyone can take action to reduce their exposure to wildfire smoke.

Check the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) and monitor your symptoms. People respond differently to smoke. Mild irritation and discomfort are common, and usually disappear when the smoke clears. Drinking lots of water can help your body cope with the smoke.”

Click here for more details.

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