Radon risk in Canada is not uniform. Your province, city, and even your neighbourhood can have a dramatic effect on how likely your home is to have elevated radon. This guide summarizes what Health Canada's Cross-Canada Survey and provincial monitoring data tell us about radon levels across the country — and what it means for your home.
The National Picture
Health Canada's Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes (the most comprehensive national dataset) tested over 14,000 homes across the country. Key findings:
- The national geometric mean was approximately 47 Bq/m³
- Approximately 1 in 14 Canadian homes (7.3%) exceed the 200 Bq/m³ action level
- Provincial averages range from under 30 Bq/m³ in some coastal provinces to over 100 Bq/m³ in the Prairie provinces
- Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in Canada, responsible for approximately 3,200 deaths per year
Radon Levels by Province
Saskatchewan — Highest Risk in Canada
Saskatchewan has the highest provincial average radon concentration in Canada. A substantial proportion of Saskatchewan homes exceed 200 Bq/m³, and some areas of the province — particularly in the north and central regions — have average levels several times the national mean. The uranium-rich soils of the Canadian Shield and Prairie glacial deposits contribute to Saskatchewan's elevated baseline.
Action: Testing is strongly recommended for every Saskatchewan home. The provincial government recommends testing as a routine home maintenance task. See our Saskatoon radon guide.
Manitoba — Among Canada's Highest
Manitoba's radon levels are consistently among the highest in the country. Winnipeg in particular has a high concentration of homes above the action level, driven by the city's clay-heavy soils and cold climate that seals homes for most of the year. Rural Manitoba, particularly in areas close to the Shield, also shows elevated readings.
Action: All Manitoba homeowners should test. Winnipeg's rates are among the highest of any major Canadian city. See our Winnipeg radon guide.
Alberta — High Risk, High Awareness
Alberta has among the highest radon levels of any province, and Calgary and Edmonton are consistently flagged in Health Canada surveys as elevated-risk cities. The provincial average exceeds the national mean significantly, and approximately 1 in 5 Calgary homes tests above 200 Bq/m³. Alberta Health Services actively promotes radon testing, and municipalities including Calgary and Edmonton have supported public awareness campaigns.
Action: Testing is strongly recommended across Alberta, particularly in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat. See our city guides: Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer.
New Brunswick — Elevated Atlantic Risk
New Brunswick has shown consistently elevated radon in Health Canada surveys, with rates above the national average. The province's granite bedrock and granitic glacial sediments in the southern and central regions contribute to elevated soil radon. Fredericton and Moncton have both shown higher-than-average readings in provincial sampling programs.
Action: New Brunswick homeowners, particularly those in the Saint John River valley and southern regions, should prioritize testing.
Nova Scotia — Shield Bedrock Risk
Nova Scotia's Meguma Zone — ancient metamorphic and granitic rocks — covers much of the province and is naturally uranium-rich. Halifax and the surrounding Halifax Regional Municipality sit directly on this bedrock, and radon readings in many HRM neighbourhoods are well above the national average. Nova Scotia Environment has published radon risk mapping for the province.
Action: Testing is strongly recommended across Nova Scotia, particularly in the HRM, Annapolis Valley, and Cape Breton regions. See our Halifax radon guide.
Ontario — Variable, with High-Risk Zones
Ontario's radon picture is highly variable. Southern Ontario's sedimentary bedrock generally produces lower radon than Shield areas, but the Ottawa Valley, Sudbury Basin, and communities along the Shield margin face significantly elevated risk. Ottawa has some of Ontario's highest residential radon readings. The GTA is generally lower-risk, though elevated readings occur in areas near the Niagara Escarpment (Burlington, Hamilton) and in older housing stock throughout the region.
Action: Ottawa-area residents should treat radon testing as a priority. GTA and Hamilton-area residents should test, with particular attention to homes in Shield-adjacent or Escarpment-adjacent communities. See our city guides: Ottawa, Burlington, Hamilton, London.
British Columbia — Interior vs. Coast
BC's radon risk is split sharply between the Interior and the coast. The Lower Mainland and Metro Vancouver sit on sedimentary and volcanic rock with relatively low uranium content — radon levels are generally below the national average. The BC Interior, however — including the Okanagan, Thompson, and Kootenay regions — sits on granitic intrusive rocks with high uranium concentrations. Kelowna and Kamloops consistently show elevated readings in provincial surveys.
Action: Interior BC residents (Kelowna, Kamloops, Vernon, Cranbrook, Nelson, Trail) should prioritize testing. Coastal residents are at lower risk but should still test older homes with below-grade living spaces. See our city guides: Kelowna, Kamloops.
Quebec — Localized Risk
Quebec's radon levels are generally below the national average in most populated areas, but significant pockets of elevated risk exist — particularly in the Laurentians, Eastern Townships, and Quebec City region where Shield bedrock is near the surface. The Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, sitting directly on the Shield, shows among Quebec's highest readings.
Action: Quebec City, Sherbrooke, and Laurentian homeowners should test. Montreal and surrounding lowlands are lower-risk but not zero-risk.
Prince Edward Island — Lower Risk
PEI's red sandstone geology contains relatively little uranium, and the island's radon levels are among the lowest in Canada. However, some readings above 200 Bq/m³ have been recorded, and testing remains worthwhile for any home with below-grade living space.
Newfoundland and Labrador — Variable
Newfoundland sits on some of the oldest and most uranium-rich rock in Canada — the Grenville Province gneisses and the Appalachian granites. Labrador in particular shows elevated radon readings. The island portion is variable, with higher readings in the interior and lower readings near the coast. St. John's has shown moderate radon levels in Health Canada surveys.
Yukon — Elevated Risk, Limited Data
The Yukon sits on some of Canada's oldest and most geologically complex rock, with significant uranium-bearing formations across the territory. Communities including Whitehorse have shown elevated radon readings in available testing data, and the cold climate — with homes sealed for the majority of the year — increases indoor accumulation. Testing coverage across the territory remains limited relative to southern provinces.
Action: All Yukon homeowners and residents of enclosed living spaces should test. The cold climate and Shield geology create conditions for significant radon accumulation.
Northwest Territories and Nunavut — Shield Bedrock
Much of Canada's north sits on Precambrian Shield rock with high uranium content. Communities in the NWT and Nunavut that have been tested have shown elevated radon, but testing coverage in northern Canada is limited. Given the cold climate (homes sealed for most of the year) and Shield geology, radon risk in northern communities is likely significant.
Why Provincial Averages Are Only Part of the Story
Provincial averages don't tell you what's happening in your home. Radon concentrations vary dramatically at the neighbourhood and even street level — two identical houses on the same block can have radon levels that differ by a factor of 10. Soil permeability, foundation type, construction quality, ventilation habits, and local geology all interact in complex ways.
The only reliable way to know your home's radon level is to test. A long-term alpha track test costs under $60 and provides the most accurate residential measurement available.
Ready to find out where your home stands? Order our Radtrak³ Long Term Alpha Track Test Kit — independently analyzed by an accredited radon laboratory. Or browse our full radon testing collection including continuous digital monitors for ongoing measurement.
