North Shore splash parks, rec centres offer cool respite as temperatures soar

Splash parks will be open, and cooling down in the shade with a book or a tall glass of water will be encouraged across the North Shore this weekend as temperatures are predicted to rise 10 to 15 degrees warmer than usual for this time of year.

In North and West Vancouver, daytime highs are expected to spike in the high 20s, with the hottest days on Sunday and Monday. Lows will dip to the mid-teens overnight.

Those temperatures prompted Environment Canada to issue a special weather statement, but are still well below the blistering temperatures of the “heat dome” which happened at the end of June 2021 and resulted in the heat-related deaths of more than 600 people in B.C.

But the weekend heat wave will be a lot warmer than usual at this time of year, and comes after a relatively cool spring, meaning people aren’t yet acclimatized to hot weather, said Emily Dicken, director of the North Shore Emergency Management Office.

While there’s no formal emergency plan in place for this weekend, “we’re definitely cognizant people will feel the heat,” she said.

Libraries, splash parks and rec centres open

There won’t be any special “cooling centres” set up, but municipal libraries and rec centres will be open throughout the North Shore for those who need a spot to cool off.

The City of North Vancouver, District of North Vancouver and District of West Vancouver have all listed those, and provided maps on their websites. (You can find those web pages by clicking on the links above.)

Splash parks in the City of North Vancouver – which normally wouldn’t open until the May long weekend – will also be open to help people stay cool, said Dicken.

Those most vulnerable to heat include people over 60 who live alone, and those with preexisting health conditions, disabilities, with substance use disorders, as well as anyone who doesn’t have adequate housing. Young children, as well as those who are pregnant or who work in a hot place, are also particularly susceptible to heat.

Keep an eye on indoor temperatures

Vancouver Coastal Health recommends keeping an eye on indoor temperatures (which are concerning if they go over 31 degrees) and checking in on vulnerable people at least a couple of times a day.

Some symptoms of heat illness to look out for include headaches, dizziness, heavy sweating, muscle cramps, and extreme thirst or dark urine.

Experts advise staying well hydrated by drinking lots of water, keeping windows closed and shaded during the day to keep out heat and open at night to let in cooler air. They also suggest sleeping in the coolest part of your home. Installing a window air conditioner and/or thermal blinds in one room can make a difference.

All three municipalities on the North Shore have listed both indoor and outdoor public spaces where people can go to cool off this weekend.

During the heat home of June 2021, nine people died of heat-related illness on the North Shore.

Most of those people were elderly, house-bound and lived alone in older apartment buildings without cooling systems.

According to Vancouver Coastal Health, all long-term care homes within the health region are now equipped with either central or portable air conditioning.

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