North Shore cooling centres to open, home support checks to increase during mini heat wave

Home support workers will be checking on the most vulnerable and municipalities are once again offering air-conditioned community and recreation centres as places where residents can cool off as another mini heat wave is expected to hit the North Shore.

Temperatures on the North Shore are expected to reach highs of 29 degrees, with overnight lows not dropping below 16 degrees overnight, Environment Canada has warned. Temperatures are expected to peak Thursday and Friday, with some inland areas in the south coast reaching highs of 35.

A spokesman for Vancouver Coastal Health said the health authority has developed a plan to check on the wellbeing of its most vulnerable home support clients, many of whom are seniors.

Workers will be conducting daily check-ins either in-person for by phone, said spokesman Jeremy Deutsch. Home support will also help residents get to cooling centres, if needed, he said.

Health officials are also urging everyone to check in on family, friends and neighbours, especially seniors and people with disabilities or mobility issues.

One Lower Mainland woman is urging North Shore residents to take the warnings to heart after her North Vancouver grandmother died of apparent heat-exhaustion in the end-of-June “heat dome.”

Annie Brown, 90, died in her apartment, likely after suffering a heat-related heart attack.

Her granddaughter Kelly Gaba says neither she nor her beloved Nana knew Brown was at risk.

Meanwhile the three North Shore municipalities are once again offering municipal libraries and community recreation centres as places to keep cool during regular facility hours in the District of West Vancouver, District of North Vancouver and City of North Cancouver.

If there is additional need, the North Shore Emergency Management office is prepared to open additional cooling centres.

The emergency management office is also working with local community organizations to do additional check-ins with vulnerable people on the North Shore, including seniors and the homeless.

The City of North Vancouver will also be installing ‘misting stations’ as another cool-down option at the Shipyards, Waterfront Park, Moodyville Park, the city civic plaza and Victoria Park West.

Community members are also reminded that all barbecues, including propane, are banned at parks and beaches until further notice.