For several days in early September, Vancouver’s skies were heavy with grey smoke from the American west coast wildfires. The air was so obscure at times the sun was blotted out and you could barely see the building next door; at other times you could actually move the smog with your hand. The acrid smoke was smelt and tasted, even through a covid face-mask. Not that the hazardous air quality warnings deterred fitness fanatics from jogging in the gloomy haze.