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August 2026

Wildfire smoke and pulmonary fibrosis: 7 ways to stay safe

Summer in Canada is more frequently now the season of wildfires. Smoke and haze containing harmful, very small, particles can drift more than 500 kilometers from the fire itself. This particulate matter (PM) can cause breathing problems for healthy individuals and more serious consequences in those with respiratory illnesses, such as pulmonary fibrosis.

We urge you to read the information and advice on our website about how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke.

If you experience increased trouble breathing and/or lower oxygen levels, call your health care provider.

  1. If you need urgent care, call 911 or visit your nearest emergency department.
  2. Check local air conditions using the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI), InfoSmog (Quebec), and air quality alerts to determine whether smoke is impacting your area.
  3. Limit your time outdoors, when air quality is poor.
  4. If you must go outside, wear a properly fitting N95 mask. A surgical mask will NOT protect you from PM.
  5. Protect your indoor air from wildfire smoke by keeping windows and doors closed as much as possible.
  6. Use the highest recommended quality air filter on your home ventilation system and use a certified portable air cleaner that can filter fine particles. Change the filters regularly during wildfire smoke events. Clogged filters aren’t effective at removing smoke.
  7. Limit the use of exhaust fans, such as over the stove or in bathrooms.

The CPFF Walk days of August

Participants pose for a photo at last year’s Hope Breathes Here Walk for PF in Saskatoon.

Lace up your walking shoes and join us for one of three community Walks for PF this August.

The 2026 Walks feature a big prize for fundraisers: A roundtrip flight for two to any regularly scheduled and marketed WestJet destination! Registered Walk participants who raise $50 or more for their 2026 Hope Breathes Here Walk will automatically be entered to win a WestJet Gift of Flight. Start gathering pledges for your Walk now and increase your chances to win.

  • Saskatoon. August 8, 10 a.m. 219 Kinsmen/Henk Ruys Soccer Centre, 219 Primrose Drive, Saskatoon, SK. To avoid any potential wildfire smoke, this year’s Walk will be held indoors, to keep participants safe and comfortable.
  • Avonmore & Ottawa Run or Walk the Farm. August 15, 9:30 a.m. Avonmore Berry Farm, 16365 4 Rd. Avonmore, ON. This year the Avonmore Walk on the Farm has joined forces with the Hope Breathes Here Ottawa Walk to double your fun at this beautiful farm setting.
  • Winnipeg. August 22, 10 a.m. Assiniboine Park, Seasonal Event Tent B, 55 Pavilion Crescent, Winnipeg, MB. In addition to the WestJet prize, the Winnipeg Walk offers registrants two additional draw prizes: two tickets to a Winnipeg Blue Bombers home game and a football signed by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers players. More reasons to come together, make an impact, and celebrate our community.
Jim Woodcock’s daughter Jaime carries a photo of her father, who passed away in January 2025 of IPF, at the Ottawa Walk last year.

The Names We Carry

Grief does not disappear when we lose someone we love. We learn to live with it, while carrying the precious memories that keep them close.

The Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation invites you to share your loved one’s name, photograph and what you love about them with us. At our Walks across Canada, we will say their names aloud — honouring their lives and carrying their memories with us.

Share their photo. Tell their story. Carry their memory.

CPFF Fellow continues advancing ILD research

Dr. Na’ama Avitzur has completed a very productive 2nd year as a CPFF Robert Davidson Fellow.

During her second CPFF fellowship year, Dr. Avitzur has continued to investigate a number of research questions and expand her skills, making contributions to quality-of-life issues for patients, providing guidance for clinicians, and using AI and machine learning applications to CT analysis to aid researchers.

Expert treatment patterns in patients with ILD

For her main research project, Dr. Avitzur examined which patient features influence treatment decisions by expert ILD physicians, using previously collected patient information from the CARE-PF (Canadian Registry for Pulmonary Fibrosis).

200 real cases were selected, including medical histories, CT scans and radiologist reports, along with other information, and reviewed by physicians online. Cases were sent to 13 ILD experts across the country (many former CPFF Fellows) to obtain their treatment recommendations for these specific cases. For some cases, a lung biopsy report was added later and the experts were asked whether, and how, the biopsy results changed their diagnosis and/or treatment plans.

“We found certain key CT features that drive treatment decisions,” says Dr. Avitzur. “Additionally, ILD physicians use complementary information from both diagnosis (medical history, breathing tests, etc.) as well as CT results in treatment decisions. This means a ‘comprehensive’ approach is used in making disease management decisions.”

Impact for patients, clinicians and researchers.

Most ILD patients have a long first appointment with their specialist team. “This helps the team gather as much relevant information as possible, to make an informed diagnosis and treatment plan for each individual patient,” says Dr. Avitzur. “These findings should help guide ILD treatment decisions for physicians, and respirologists at every level,” says Dr. Avitzur. “In turn, the more aware and informed clinicians are, the better the care they can deliver to their patients.”

Use the Read More button to find out about Dr. Avitzur’s other projects, including:

  • AI learning and applying the newest research skills
  • Using AI to quantify lung damage
  • Pulmonary fibrosis and sex
  • Dr. Avitzur’s future plans

Read More

Patient and Caregiver Stories

The Miño family team show off their t-shirts as they honour the memory of their late Tata Luis Miño at the Edmonton event on June 27, 2026. From left to right: Claudia (daughter), Maria Eugenia (wife), Luis (son-in-law), Meghan (grand- daughter), Alondra (a favorite dance partner of Luis’ and Richard’s sister), Richard (son-in-law), and Roxana (eldest daughter).

Luis Miño left a legacy of optimism, laughter and love

Luis Miño loved cycling, dancing, cooking traditional Chilean foods like empanadas (hand-held meat pies), and a good joke. And, he loved his large family. An eternal optimist, Luis, his wife Maria Eugenia, and their four young children, left the temperate climate of Chile and arrived in Winnipeg in December 3, 1978. Brrrrrr.

He and Maria Eugenia raised their children, welcomed 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Luis never expected the health challenges that marked his last five years, but he faced them with humour, bravery and hope.

Read more

Angie Ortlieb Talks about her father and PF

Angie Ortlieb’s dad Bruce was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in 2011. Like many, they had never heard about this disease before. Bruce wanted to live life and didn’t want to stop doing the things he loved. “Treat me like I’m living,” said Bruce to his family.

Watch now

Harprit with her daughter Deeya, her father Surinder Barha and her mother Harvinder at a family wedding function in England in July 2009.

Turning loss into purpose

Dealing with the loss of her mother almost 10 years ago, Harprit Boiteux now helps others facing pulmonary fibrosis. In this story Harprit shares her mother’s PF journey and how giving to others helps her heal.

Read more

Summer advocacy update

Nerandomilast

We are all awaiting the results of Health Canada’s review of the new anti-fibrotic drug nerandomilast (brand name Jascayd). It provides similar results to earlier anti-fibrotics in slowing the progression of PF, but with vastly reduced side effects. For more information about nerandomilast, watch our featured video.

Health Canada first reviews new drugs for safety, effectiveness and quality. Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA) and INESSS, its Quebec counterpart, then evaluate their clinical value and cost-effectiveness and make reimbursement recommendations to public drug plans.

CPFF made patient organization submissions to the CDA and INESS this spring. We expect to hear by mid-October whether the drug is approved or not. If it is, CPFF will involve you and our communities in raising our voices to get the costs of the new drug reimbursed by the provinces and territories.

Oxygen campaign

We have more than 2,300 petition signatures – let’s keep pushing for more! CPFF has been expanding its efforts to bring patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers and partner organizations together to join us in speaking out for more equitable oxygen access. Outreach at various meetings and conferences are getting more people onboard. If you haven’t already done so, please sign the petition today and send the link to your family, friends and colleagues. And if you’re attending a Walk, sign up with your friends and family while you are there.

Your medical records should be there when you need them

CPFF is supporting the Canadian Medical Association’s campaign for the swift passage of Bill S-5, the Connected Care for Canadians Act.

When health care professionals cannot access your medical records, you may have to repeat tests or share the same information again and again. These gaps can lead to errors, delays and duplicate testing.

Bill S-5 would require health technology companies to use common standards, making it easier to share information among patients, health care professionals and health systems.

CPFF is joining the CMA and other patient organizations in urging the federal government to pass the bill and make connected care a reality, especially for patients with complex needs.

Learn more on the CMA’s campaign website and use its online form to email your MP. It takes about two minutes.

Rain didn’t dampen Edmonton Walk’s spirit

Members of the Lusk family pose for a photo with CPFF CEO Sharon Lee, centre right. Sandy Lusk, centre left, holds a photo of her husband Dale, who passed away earlier this year from PF.

With the forecast calling for heavy rainfall on June 27, the Edmonton Walk became a Meet and Greet in the lobby of a local hotel. Registrants were informed the day before and many of the walkers showed up.

The indoor gathering was filled with love and support. Coffee between strangers, stories shared between friends, and a sense of connection that no storm could wash away. This is community. Thank you Edmonton.

In spite of the move indoors, event results were great. Eighty people registered for the Walk and together they raised more than $15,000! Global TV Edmonton was on hand to interview CPFF CEO Sharon Lee and she was also interviewed by the Sauce podcast in Edmonton. You can listen to it here.

You can still make a donation in support of the Edmonton event until October.

DIY fundraisers for 2026 PF awareness campaign

Friends, family and supporters of the Ottawa PF Community gather at a local pub, raising funds and hope on June 28.  

When hope brings Ottawa together, incredible things happen

On June 28th, more than 50 friends, family members, and supporters came together for Harmony & Hope for Pulmonary Fibrosis, raising an incredible $5,195 – more than double the fundraising goal!

Organized by CPFF’s Ottawa PF Support Group leaders Bruce Lonergan and Harprit Boiteux, the afternoon was filled with music, connection, and hope. The personal stories shared by Pam Rizzo and Bernard Raymond reminded us why this cause matters so deeply.

To everyone who showed up, donated, and volunteered, thank you. Together, we’re bringing hope and support to Canadians living with pulmonary fibrosis.

Donations can still be made to support this event here.

Catherine Pronovost runs for her mother

Catherine’s mother, diagnosed with PF last year, holds her grandchild. 

Last year, Catherine’s mother was diagnosed with PF. Inspired by the persistent breathlessness experienced by people living with this disease, she will be running the BougeBouge Verdun Marathon on September 13 to raise funds for CPFF.

She says it will be a tough run for her, but nothing compared to the breathlessness experienced every day by people living with PF. She has put up each of the 42 km. of the run for sale for $100. You  can sponsor a km as a group, or make any donation you like. She’s already close to her goal, let’s help her reach it. You can lend your support to Catherine here.

Featured Videos

Oxygen therapy saves lives and healthcare dollars

Watch Here

Getting active: It’s time to put spring back in your step

Watch Here

Nerandomilast in IPF and PPF. A new option on the horizon 

Watch Here