Community centres open, volunteers to check on seniors as temperatures rise on North Shore

As temperatures climb across the North Shore this weekend, municipalities are welcoming the public into air-conditioned libraries and community centres and volunteers are being encouraged to check in on vulnerable seniors.

“Check on your family, check on your neighbour,” said Emily Dicken, director of North Shore Emergency Management.

The emergency management office is also co-ordinating with community groups who work with seniors to check in on those who may be at risk.

“They’re the ones who know the populations they work with,” said Dicken.

In North Vancouver, for instance, the Parkgate Society has developed a “safe seniors list” focusing on those who may be at risk in the event of extreme heat or other natural disaster, and will have trained volunteers to check in on them.

In West Vancouver, volunteers at the Seniors’ Activity Centre will also be checking-in, either by phone or in person, on up to 600 of the most vulnerable seniors. The Seniors’ Activity Centre will also be open during regular hours for anyone who wants to stop by.

Annwen Loverin, with Silver Harbour Centre, said their organization has been handing out information about avoiding heat stress with meal bags for seniors and to program participants. Volunteers have also been putting up posters in seniors apartment buildings, she said.

Loverin said community organizations have also been urging health authorities to have home support workers check in with vulnerable seniors. “The broader net we can cast, the fewer seniors will find themselves in heat trouble,” she said.

Environment Canada has issued heat warnings for most areas of the south coast including the North Shore this weekend. Temperatures are expected to hit above 30 C between now and Saturday. Nighttime temperatures are also expected to remain relatively high – in the upper teens.

While this weekend’s heat wave will be nothing like the record-breaking temperatures that hit the south coast a month ago, all levels of government are being cautious in light of the large number of likely heat-related deaths that happened during June’s “heat dome.”

The BC Coroners Service is investigating 815 sudden deaths that occurred during that time – over 600 more than the five-year average for that time period.

Most of those who died were seniors who were living alone in apartments.

In the City of North Vancouver, where proportionally more people live in apartments, the municipality is also making six outdoor temporary drip irrigation/misting cooling stations available over the weekend at The Shipyards, Waterfront Park, Grand Boulevard Park, Civic Plaza, Fen Burdett Park, and Victoria Park.

The North Shore Emergency Management Office also has a plan in place to open additional cooling centres, should that become needed.

With rising temperatures and tinder dry conditions, all three local fire departments are also on alert this weekend. Current fire danger on the North Shore is at extreme, and all barbecues – including propane – are banned and parks and beaches.