HEAT WAVE – City opens cooling centre at McArthur Island Sports & Events

The City of Kamloops has opened a cooling centre at the NHL rink at the McArthur Island Sports and Event Centre. Residents can use the facility to seek temporary relief from the hot temperatures following Environment and Climate Change Canada’s July 6 announcement of a heat warning.

The cooling centre is open today, Tuesday, July 9, from 12 noon to 8 p.m., and will operate within those hours until the end of the heat event.

City officials say, though, that if an Emergency Support Services reception centre is activated this week, the cooling centre could be closed to accommodate evacuees.

Residents are being encouraged to check on their neighbours who may have heat sensitivity or vulnerability. Prolonged periods of extreme heat can lead to severe illness and death. “Heat can affect anyone, but some individuals are more susceptible than others, especially if they do not have access to air conditioning.”

Individuals at Risk

• seniors aged 65 years or older
• infants and young children
• people with pre-existing health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, or respiratory disease
• people with mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, depression, or anxiety
• people who are pregnant
• people with limited mobility
• people who live alone
• people who are marginally housed
• people who work in hot environments
• people with substance use disorders

Options for seeking heat relief included access to water parks, drinking fountains with potable water, and washrooms with potable water at various park locations throughout the city. The City is also offering free swimming  until July 12 during public swim times at the Canada Games Aquatic Centre, Brock Outdoor Pool, and Westsyde Pool. Visit Kamloops.ca/Swim for details.

Full details are available on Kamloops.ca/Heat.