For the first time in its 35-year history, the Apple Triathlon was cancelled due to the heavy smoke and poor air quality over Kelowna this past weekend, and it won't be coming back until next year.
Race Director Susie Ernsting, who appeared on the Early Edition Monday morning, says it was a huge dissapointment for athletes and organizers alike.
"We were so excited to be back in Kelowna this year," says Ernsting. "We had a great new venue, great new courses, and a fantastic group of athletes and officials from around North America, so it was a shame that we weren't able to give them the race that we thought we were going to be able to."
The event, which sold out earlier this month, initially had a thousand athletes signed up for its various races.
While there are no plans on rescheduling the event to sometime later this year, Ernsting says M1 Sports, the company that organizes the triathlon, will be looking for ways to make it up to the athletes for next year's race.
"We're going to let the dust settle this week, see where things lay, and see what we're able to do next year to potentially offer all of our athletes something in return for the cancelled event."
Triathlon Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee will also adjust the criteria for the Pan American Games, and will notify any impacted athletes that would have participated in this past weekend's event.
Despite the Apple Triathlon's cancellation, a volunteer appreciation dinner is still planned tonight.
The Air Quality Health Index measured at 10+ over the weekend, meaning a very high risk to health. Interior Health has advised all residents living in smoky areas to avoid strenuous outdoor activities while air quality remains poor.