With the lower temperatures forecast into the week, the Comox Valley Regional District is keeping the warming centres in Courtenay and Cumberland open Monday and Tuesday night.
The centres will be open from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. both nights. In Courtenay, people can go to the Lower Native Sons Hall at 360 Cliffe Avenue to warm up, and in Cumberland, people can visit Buchanan Hall at 2674 Dunsmuir Avenue.
According to the CVRD website, the warming centres "are intended as a place of refuge offering a dry, safe place with seating, snacks, washrooms, security, and cleaning services. Leashed or crated pets are welcome, but please verify with the service provider on site."
They are not funded through local taxes, do not have sleeping areas, cots or mats, or require registration. There is no violent behaviour tolerated, and no visitors or media are allowed on site without approval from the site manager and on-site service providers.
Emergency warming centres and services are temporary emergency supports that may be eligible for Provincial funding and support when one or more of the following Environment & Climate Change Canada (ECCC) thresholds have been met:
- Extreme Weather Alert: including Warnings, Watches, Advisories, and Special Weather Statements coincide with temperatures of 0掳C or lower.
- Forecast Temperatures: are predicted to reach -4掳C or colder.
- Weather-related Threats: When weather conditions may pose a direct threat to safety (example: prolonged power outages, sustained high winds with the risk of flying debris).
Warming centres are different from emergency shelters in that the warming centres are set up when weather conditions may pose a direct threat to safety.
"Services are delivered by local service providers, to offer a safe, warm, dry place of refuge with access to washroom facilities, security, cleaning services, a seating area, snacks and refreshments. There are no sleeping areas or registration requirements," the regional district's website says.
Emergency shelters, which are operated and delivered by local service providers under contract with BC Housing and other sources, provide basic services like places to sleep, eat and wash. They are activated after weather conditions hit a certain threshold set by BC Housing.
For more information, visit the .
