Cooling centres in northwestern Ontario prepare as another summer heatwave is in the forecast
CBC
Cooling centres across northwestern Ontario are preparing their facilities to better respond to increasingly rising temperatures.
This preparation comes after Environment Canada held several heat warnings for the western part of the region, including Thunder Bay, last weekend, with another round of near 30 C temperatures expected next weekend.
The rest of the week is expected to have milder temperatures, averaging at most around the low to mid-20s.
Meteorologist Victoria Nurse with Environment and Climate Change Canada recommends residents limit sun exposure and schedule activities early in the morning or later in the evening.
Kyle Arnold. the co-ordinator for People Advocating for Change Through Empowerment (PACE), says they're bracing to be ready to help people who need relief.
"We are seeing a demand with clients coming to the cooling centre looking for drinks, looking for cold snacks and just looking for a place where they can cool off in a safe environment," he said.
He said many of their clients live in encampments and shelters in the city, making it hard for them to find a safe space to stay cool in the daytime, and the heatwave only increases this risk.
He offered a few other ways for those unable to attend the centre to take precautions to stay cool.
"I just encourage them to find cool spaces where they can stay out of the heat because heat stroke is real," he said. "And as we've seen, the temperatures are rising. If they can get into the lake, get into the lake and just make sure to wear proper hats and proper footwear to protect them from the heat."
He said PACE has trained staff to be ready for a summer surge in clients.
However, he added that it's important for other agencies to still do their best to support the cooling centres across the city.
"I just want the public to know that once again, another summer has come and PACE is here trying to support the city's most vulnerable and that we need that continual help from local agencies and local donators, with especially water and cool snacks," said Arnold.
Other centres with limited staff struggle during extreme heat.
"We deal with some of the most high-risk people in the community," said Yvonne Bearbull, the executive director of the Kenora Fellowship Centre.