Prince George Air Improvement Roundtable

Prince George faces serious, longstanding air quality problems. These are linked primarily to topography, emissions from transportation, industry, road dust, and burning of wood for home heating and recreational use. Air quality improvements are encouraging, and work is underway to further reduce harmful emissions and protect the health of residents.

The Prince George Air Improvement Roundtable (PGAIR) is a non-profit society, founded in 2006, that brings together multiple interests to work collaboratively towards continuous improvement of outdoor air quality within the Prince George airshed.

PGAIR is not a regulatory body and has no formal authority to permit or regulate air quality emissions; however, among the PGAIR members are regulatory agencies that can use regulatory tools. Members of PGAIR represent local and provincial government agencies, industry, academia, community groups and members of the public, health agencies, commercial and transportation sectors.

The Fraser Basin Council serves as secretariat for PGAIR.

Wood Smoke Reduction Program

PGAIR coordinates the provincially funded Community Wood Smoke Reduction Program (also known as the wood stove exchange program) in Prince George and the surrounding area, in collaboration with other organizations.

The program provides incentives to change out older, smoky wood stoves with cleaner heating options, including heat pumps, pellet stoves and new EPA- or CSA-certified, cleaner burning wood stoves. In the past 14 years, over 400 old wood stoves have been replaced in the Prince George area through the program.

For details and to participate, see the Community Wood Smoke Reduction Program on the PGAIR site.

Air Quality Monitoring

PGAIR provides support and input to the Prince George Ambient Air Monitoring Working Group, facilitating information sharing and monitoring network funding and maintenance.

Education

PGAIR has supported public education initiatives on best practices for selecting, drying, storing and burning wood through the Burn it Clean campaign.

The Fraser Basin Council has included Burn it Clean videos in its Wood Smoke Information Resources Portal.

Other PGAIR public education has focused on anti-idling, eco-driving and dust reduction.

Highlights of Past Work

Here are some other work highlights. PGAIR has:

• Created and supported the implementation of air quality management and implementation plans in 1998 (Phase I), 2006 (Phase II) and 2011 (Phase III). Through those efforts, PM2.5 was reduced by approximately 29% between 2005 and 2016. Find reports on the PGAIR site.
• Helped fund air quality research, including an air quality emissions and modelling report in 2021 – see reports on its site
• Provided annual emissions reductions briefing notes to identify and communicate member agency actions for incorporating air quality management plan strategies
• Developed a teaching resource package for educators (2013, updated 2019)
• Hosted a North Central BC Clean Air Forum in 2013 and 2018
• Created a series of air quality videos with local artists in 2015

Learn More

To learn more about PGAIR, including its strategic plan and current projects, visit the PGAIR website and follow on Facebook.

Contact Us

Questions? Reach out to PGAIR c/o the Fraser Basin Council, Secretariat:
E: