Roughriders-Stampeders game moved to Saturday matinee due to poor air quality

REGINA — A game between the Calgary Stampeders and Saskatchewan Roughriders has kicked off a day after it was originally scheduled as wildfire smoke has cleared from the area around Regina’s Mosaic Stadium.

An agreement between the CFL and CFL Players’ Association says that games cannot be played if the Air Quality Health Index is higher than seven.

For most of last night, the AQHI hovered above 10, but Environment Canada says the index dropped to four in Regina by Saturday noon.

Saskatchewan leads the CFL West division with a 4-0 record and Calgary is second at 3-1.

Wildfires are raging in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba, prompting air quality advisories in both provinces.

A CFL spokesman says that if the threshold surpasses eight after the game starts, it will be stopped and players will return to their dressing rooms.

The league will have up to three hours to wait for the threshold to drop below eight, at which time teams will be given half an hour to warm up.

If, like last night, the threshold doesn’t look like it will drop, the CFL will make a decision regarding when to play the game.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2025.