Sneeze city: Why Windsor is Canada’s worst place for allergy sufferers

Windsor has been ranked the worst in Canada for people with allergies. CTV Windsor’s Stefanie Masotti has more.

Windsor, Ont., is the No. 1 most challenging place to live in Canada in 2026 if you have pollen allergies, according to Ottawa-based research lab Aerobiology.

Researchers found an estimated eight to 10 million Canadians — or one in five — are affected by pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds, with symptoms including nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and itchy or watery eyes.

Rankings are based on the length of the season and the number of days with high or very high airborne pollen concentrations.

The overall report found City of Windsor has longer and stronger concentration of pollen during the seasons largely driven by dense surrounding vegetation, favourable climate conditions, and the abundance of highly allergenic species such as birch, oak, and ragweed.

Top 5 most challenging places to live with pollen allergies in 2026:

1. Windsor, Ont.

2. Hamilton, Ont.

3. Barrie, Ont.

4. Victoria, B.C.

5. Kingston, Ont.

Top 5 Canadian cities with lowest seasonal pollen burden in 2026:

1. St. John’s, N.L.

2. Saint John, N.B.

3. Regina, Sask.

4. Moncton, N.B.

5. Halifax, N.S.