Cochrane’s air will now be continuously monitored on site rather than getting readings from Calgary. A new monitoring program through the Calgary Regional Airshed Zone (CRAZ) – a multi-stakeholder non-profit – prompted by a third party assessment, will bring an air monitoring device to the town for six months. From there, it will be rotated between Okotoks and Strathmore, each for six months, and then back to Cochrane for a final time. The reason, said CRAZ executive director Jill Bloor, is to ensure sizeable rural communities have accurate air quality readings – especially when fires cause a noticeable difference – rather than presuming Calgary’s air readings are the same for the nearby municipalities. After the monitor has been rotated through the communities, another assessment will be done – such as comparing readings to Calgary’s – to determine whether the municipalities should install a permanent air testing site. “Air quality monitoring is done to help us ensure that (air) doesn’t have a negative effect on human health,” Bloor said. “We monitor particulate matter 2.5, which is very important to be monitored because it is matter that is smaller than human hair – it gets into not just your lungs but into your capillaries and that’s the damaging part.” The project – four years in total – consists of deploying the PAML (Portable Air Monitoring Laboratory) that will generate an Air Quality Health Index for the community. Bloor said CRAZ was prompted to do the project following a network assessment in 2012 which identified communities that would benefit from continuous monitoring including Cochrane, Okotoks/High River corridor, Bow Valley corridor and the Chestermere/Strathmore corridor. “It is important to have the ability to generate AQHI for more communities in the region than just Calgary as often the impact in certain areas can be different,” Bloor said. The air-monitoring process for Cochrane began in October but an official kick-off will be Nov. 28 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Mitford Park. The event is free and open to all to attend. There will be information shared on the project and participants will have the chance to view the analyzers, if they wish and ask questions. The sponsors are Alberta Environment & Parks and Spray Lake Sawmills. [email protected]
