News Release: Radon Mitigation Efforts
Dauphin, Manitoba – In recognition of Radon Action Month this November, the City of Dauphin is highlighting its ongoing efforts to reduce radon exposure in municipal facilities, including a $24,000 mitigation project recently completed at the Dauphin Fire Station.
Testing at the Fire Station identified radon concentrations as high as 322 becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m3). Mitigation work was completed throughout the spring and summer of 2026 and involved extensive work in the crawlspace beneath the entire building. The project included preparing the crawlspace, installing a sealed barrier across the dirt floor, and adding a ventilation system designed to reduce radon concentrations inside the Fire Station. Preliminary post-mitigation testing has recorded radon concentrations below 40 Bq/m3, well below Health Canada's guideline of 200 Bq/m3.
“When people think about the risks firefighters face, they usually think about what happens at an emergency scene. But there are other risks to consider, including the air we breathe in our own station,” said Fire Chief Cam Abrey. “Our members dedicate a lot of time to keeping Dauphin safe, and it’s important that we’re looking after their long-term health and safety, too.”
The Fire Station is not the City's only radon mitigation project. In May 2026, the City completed mitigation work in the older portion of the Dauphin Public Library, where testing had identified radon concentrations as high as 414 Bq/m3. Following mitigation, radon concentrations in the treated area were also reduced to below 40 Bq/m3.
The City has tested all municipal facilities where employees work and is undertaking mitigation where appropriate. Through its multi-year Radon Action Plan, the City is working to reduce radon exposure in municipal buildings while encouraging residents, businesses, and other employers to take similar steps.
“We know radon is a serious concern in Dauphin, and we’ve made it a priority to do something about it,” said Deputy City Manager Lisa Gaudet. “Our Radon Action Plan is about more than raising awareness. It’s about taking meaningful steps to reduce exposure, starting with our own municipal facilities. The work at the Fire Station is an important example of putting that commitment into action.”
Local testing results reinforce the importance of these efforts. During the winter of 2023/24, 139 homes participated in a community radon testing program, with 92% of participating homes recording levels above Health Canada’s guideline of 200 Bq/m3.
More recent testing initiatives have continued to identify elevated radon concentrations. Of the 68 results recorded from the City’s 2024/25 testing initiative, 83.8% exceeded the guideline. During the 2025/26 testing season, 22 test results were received, with 95.5% exceeding the guideline.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can accumulate inside buildings and is the second leading cause of lung cancer in Canada. Because radon cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted, testing is the only way to determine its concentration in a building. With many people spending a significant portion of their day at work, the City encourages employers to consider radon testing as part of maintaining healthy indoor environments.
As part of its commitment to firefighter health and safety, the City is also providing free radon test kits to all members of the Dauphin Fire Department so they can test their homes.
Radon Information Session and Fire Department Open House
To help residents learn more, the City of Dauphin is hosting a free Radon Information Session on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Dauphin Fire Station, 121 – 2nd Street NW. Members of the Dauphin Fire Department will be welcoming residents to tour the Fire Station.
Sandy Hutchison, Senior Program Delivery Specialist with Health Canada’s National Radon Program, will discuss the health risks associated with radon, the importance of testing, how to understand test results, and what to do if radon levels are elevated.
The City will have 100 free 90-day alpha track radon test kits available to City of Dauphin residents attending the session, while supplies last.
For more information about radon, visit https://dauphin.ca/radon.