About Us

What we do

Public transparency meets air quality expertise.

Multifaceted Approach

Air quality clarity for a healthier tomorrow

The West Central Airshed Society (WCAS) is the designated air quality data provider for the west central region, entrusted by the Government of Alberta to independently monitor air quality and ensure stakeholders can access and understand this essential information for their communities.

The heart of what we do is monitoring and measuring ambient air quality in West Central Alberta, but it goes beyond just data collection.

Ambient Air Monitoring

  • Plan data monitoring strategy
  • Operate a continuous monitoring station network
  • Collect data from microsensor network
  • Validate and review data
  • Support on-site research monitoring with partners

Ambient Air Data

  • Report air quality events
  • Prepare and submit data reports
  • Display Air Quality Health Index for WCAS communities
  • Manage the Air Data Map showing real-time data
  • Offer in-depth data visualization options for members

Communications & Knowledge Translation

  • Run public-facing webinars
  • Connect with libraries, schools, senior centres & more
  • Attend community events with educational materials
  • Participate in community and industry committees

Education and Translation

  • Manage public-facing platforms with air quality information
  • Publish and distribute Annual Report to the Community
  • Reach audiences across multiple channels
  • Provide community and teacher resources on air quality

Alberta's Air

What is an Airshed, anyways?

Over 85% of Albertans live within the boundaries of Alberta’s ten Airshed organizations.
Airsheds are regional, multi-stakeholder, not-for-profit organizations that are responsible for monitoring, reporting, and educating on air quality.

Alberta Airsheds:

  • Monitor local air for pollutants that pose health risks
  • Airsheds provide the backbone of outdoor air monitoring, with over 90 continuous stations and hundreds of other monitoring sites
  • Report and share this data with governments, indigenous communities, academics, industry, and the public
  • Provide the raw air quality data that is used to report the local Air Quality Health Index (AQHI)
  • Empower informed decision-making for individuals, families, and communities
  • Educate about air quality and its impacts on health
  • Most stations are owned by Airsheds, but Airsheds also operate stations on behalf of the Government of Alberta and industrial facilities

Understand Your Air

Make informed choices with every breath you take

Globally, air pollution is responsible for an estimated 7 million deaths annually, or one in nine premature deaths every year.

This makes it the world’s largest environmental health risk, and among the largest global health risks according to the World Health Organization.

WCAS joins the call-to-action outlined by United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, knowing that reducing air pollution and improving air quality will help ensure a better future for us all.

Download the Clean Air Goals Brochure

Locally Supported

Bringing transparency to the air we all share

WCAS is funded by our members and partners. Our members include the various air quality stakeholder sectors, including industry, whose membership fees are based on air emissions.

Our partners include Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, who provide WCAS an annual grant to support our communications, engagement, and education programs. 

Well Connected

Connect with WCAS about membership, events, and air quality information