This year, people across Canada had their days impacted by smoke more than ever. According to data from Environment Canada, the number of air quality alerts issued over 2023 shot up to levels not previously seen, particularly in May and June as smoke blanketed parts of eastern Canada — spiking at more than 1,400 in June. …Chuck Fowler said once smoke hits a certain level, all outdoor work in the region has to stop because of health concerns for his workers. Health officials and WorkSafeBC, the provincial workplace safety agency, advise against outdoor activity as the risks of wildfire smoke become more apparent. …In northern B.C. and Alberta, there were more days with air quality alerts than past years as massive wildfires forced evacuations and sent smoke across the region. …The number of hours of recorded low visibility — defined by Environment Canada as visibility between 0 and 9.656 kilometres — is another indicator of the severity of wildfire smoke.