The City of Maple Ridge is offering residents a place to keep cool, as severe heat continues on Monday, July 8.
The Greg Moore Youth Centre, which is normally a hangout for teens, is also a hangout for people who need a place with air conditioning to beat the heat. The city offers the centre as Environment Canada issued a heat warning for the region.
"Elevated temperatures are expected and there is a moderate risk to public health," warns Environment Canada.
The centre (11925 Haney Pl.) will be an emergency cooling centre starting at 11 a.m. until 8 p.m., until the heat warning is lifted. Anyone is welcome to use the facility to cool down and rehydrate, and there will be no impacts to the programming offered.
The Pitt Meadows Family Recreation Centre (12027 Harris Rd.) is a free, daily drop-in cooling centre for community members and their pets on leash or in a carrier.
The PMFRC will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The cities also reminding residents to cool at air-conditioned facilities, including the Leisure Centre, Albion Community Centre, the Seniors Centre, libraries, local malls, or event at a local movie theatre.
City bylaw officers and community safety officers are working with street people to ensure their safety, and the Community Resource Hub will be open weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. to provide water and a misting station.
Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue offered some graphic information about heat exhaustion – which symptoms like dizziness, lots of sweating, nausea, and muscle cramps – vs the more serious heat stroke. The latter brings on throbbing headaches, hot and dry skin, an absence of sweat, and even loss of consciousness. Heat stroke should bring a 911 call.
Temperatures are forecast to reach 33 C, and will feel like 37 with high humidity, on both Monday and Tuesday. The high is forecast to drop to 29 C on Wednesday, but stay in the high 20s through Sunday.