Five years after the devastating heat dome in British Columbia, Mayor Patrick Johnstone of New Westminster still feels deeply affected by the extreme weather event. Reflecting on the tragedy, he expressed how challenging it was, especially knowing people who lost their lives. The crisis overwhelmed first responders as the emergency services struggled due to the unprecedented scale of the situation. It became evident that the region was ill-prepared for such a catastrophe.
During the five-day heatwave from June 25 to July 1, 2021, the B.C. Coroners Service recorded a total of 619 heat-related fatalities. New Westminster, located east of Vancouver, had the highest per-capita death toll in the province, with 33 reported deaths.
Dr. Lindsay Bowthorpe, a medical health officer at Fraser Health, highlighted that the most vulnerable individuals, including seniors living alone without access to cooling systems, were disproportionately impacted by the extreme heat. The urban environment exacerbated the situation with concrete buildings and limited green spaces trapping heat.
Since the heat dome incident, New Westminster has taken proactive measures to enhance cooling initiatives. Mayor Johnstone emphasized the city’s commitment to readiness for future heatwaves, which included conducting a study to identify priority areas for outdoor cooling solutions.
Recently, the city council received an update on efforts to improve cooling options for residents, such as expanding the network of misting stations and drinking fountains. With a focus on ensuring public safety, the city invested in installing 13 misting stations, with additional units planned for strategic locations based on high-temperature areas and vulnerable populations.
The misting stations serve as effective tools in public spaces to offer relief during hot weather. They form part of a broader strategy that includes tree planting for shade, distribution of cool kits to at-risk residents, and the operation of cooling centers during heatwaves. Additionally, a new bylaw mandates landlords to maintain safe temperatures in rental units, addressing the lack of air conditioning in many apartments.
Community advocate Gary Rodden praised these interventions, recognizing the vulnerability of New Westminster’s sizable apartment-dwelling population. He emphasized the importance of city-wide efforts to protect residents from extreme heat-related risks, supporting the implementation of regulations like the maximum heat bylaw and the deployment of cooling infrastructure.
Mayor Johnstone anticipates the heat bylaw may face legal challenges but advocates for its province-wide adoption. The city plans to further expand the network of drinking fountains and misting stations to address the remaining gaps in cooling infrastructure, prioritizing areas with high urban heat impact and vulnerable populations.