Small but Powerful

many regions in Ontario and the Northwest Territories have been evacuated or given serious health warnings due to air quality or fire proximity. it is causing extreme temperature issues and a horrible air quality problem, in addition to the literal destruction caused by the fires

the air has looked filtered orange like an old western movie for the last several afternoons, and despite the fact that we are also in a heat warning (partially due to the nearby fires) we've had to keep the windows closed. i was outside just briefly yesterday and i could see ash falling on my phone screen. everything looks and smells smoky, and it's been a very painful few days as someone in the "vulnerable" group

my district has been advised to prepare emergency kits and stay indoors as much as possible (AQHI is considered hazardous quality here today)... i don't ever recall being given advice to prepare emergency kits in my district, not even during other bad seasons that have hit in recent years. the city here is actually usually well-known for taking in evacuees from other places during wildfire season, due to our proximity to many smaller townships and the Indigenous Reservations in Northern Ontario. i have friends whose family camps have burned down or come close, and a nearby summer camp that is well-known for providing for underprivileged children has had to have an emergency evacuation due to nearby fires and extreme heat

these disasters are disproportionately devastating to the disabled, children and elders, and those of low socioeconomic status, which in turn makes them also disproportionately affect POC and my Indigenous siblings and cousins

whatever your beliefs are, keep our communities in your prayers and your good thoughts, please