On Tuesday, May 14 the B.C. Lung Foundation and Carter’s Project are bringing 100 air quality monitors to 100 Mile House, which will be distributed to residents during a town hall next week.
Families and community members are invited to attend the event at the 100 Mile Community Hall to pick up a monitor, and learn how to make air purifiers out of common household items. The town hall is from 7 to 9 p.m. (registration starts at 6:30 p.m.), and is open to everyone.
“Making air quality information accessible to communities located in wildfire-prone areas is so important,” says Christopher Lam, President & CEO of the BC Lung Foundation. “We hope that Carter’s Project will fill some gaps within the province and keep families informed and safe.”
Carter’s Project is named in memory of 100 Mile House resident Carter Vigh, who tragically passed away at the age of nine due to an asthma attack caused by poor air quality. His mother Amber Vigh says that while she’d rather have her son still with her, Carter would be happy that people remember him.
“I know that Carter would be so excited to see his little face all over town and have people know who he was,” Vigh says.
She adds that during the town hall she plans to tell people a bit about Carter and share facts about asthma and how it is impacted by air quality. The asthma attack that claimed Carter’s life was caused by heavy wildfire smoke from across the province in 2023, and Vigh says that until now, 100 Mile House’s nearest air quality monitor was in Williams Lake.
Thanks to Carter’s Project, 92 air quality monitors will be distributed to homes and businesses, while 10 outdoor air quality monitors will be spread across the community, providing real-time information for everyone.
Following the meeting on May 14, Vigh plans to head to 100 Mile Elementary School on Wednesday, May 15 to teach the Grade 6/7 class how to make air purifiers. This will produce 20 purifiers, enough for every classroom at the school.
Next month Vigh is partnering with the 100 Mile Minor Soccer Association to run the Carter Vigh Memorial Tournament from June 23. Vigh says that soccer was one of Carter’s favourite sports to play. The U10 to U14 tournament will also serve as a fundraiser for Carter’s Project, with teams paying $350 each to play.
“We’ve decided to invite teams from all across B.C. and it’s just a fun little tournament,” explains Vigh. “I’m hoping to find some local businesses who want to sponsor that just to pay for the refs and get some little prizes for the kids.
“We have a bunch of food trucks coming down and we’re trying to keep it local to help our community get more business.”
Registration for the tournament closes June 1, with teams able to sign up by emailing Vigh at office.omhsa@gmail.com. Vigh hopes to get enough teams signed up that each team can play at least two games. She notes that they also plan to run a 50/50 raffle during the tournament, and welcome any local businesses who are able to put together a basket for a raffle.
“Any way that anyone wants to help,” says Vigh. “We are open to anything, really.”
Vigh will also be attending MDA Fabrication’s 15th anniversary on June 8, with all proceeds from the event going to Carter’s Project. Likewise, this year’s Canada Day Party in the Park will also be raising money for the project through the liquor sales.
“I’m super proud of all the changes being made in Carter’s name,” says Vigh. “It’s humbling to see how our community has come together and how much everyone has stood behind and beside us.”
She encourages the community to follow Carter’s Project on Facebook and Instagram for further updates.