Five years after British Columbia’s deadly heat dome, the memories remain vivid.
“2021 was a bad year,” said City of New Westminster mayor, Patrick Johnstone.
According to the BC Coroners service, the 2021 extreme heat event claimed 619 lives. Over 98 percent of those deaths happened indoors involving vulnerable people living alone, including seniors.
“I know people who have lost family members in that event, and I know it sent a shock through the entire community.”The City of New Westminster has been one of the most active in their response after 33 lives were lost five years ago.
Mayor Patrick Johnstone says they’ve identified vulnerable buildings and residents, expanded heat-related training for first responders, and installed 13 misting stations throughout the city.
“These aren’t free investments, these aren’t cheap for the city to do, but it’s important because it keeps alive and vulnerable people in our community alive, and I’m really proud that we’re actually taking the action,” says Johnstone.
The city also introduced a new by-law in the spring that mandates landlords to maintain safe temperatures in at least one room of a tenant’s apartment.
“To give landlords the responsibility in making sure that their buildings are actually safe for people to live in.”Provincially, health officials say the response has changed dramatically since 2021.
The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) says a provincial Heat Committee now meets regularly to monitor forecasts, while improvements to the home health-care system help identify and check on vulnerable residents living alone.
“Many of those people would likely still be alive today if that event had not occurred and we can never forget the impact that has had on the families of those people,” says Sarah Henderson, Scientific Director of Environmental Health, BCCDC.
While officials say B.C. is much more prepared today, they’re also emphasizing that preparation has to continue as the next extreme heat event could be sooner rather than later.
“It’s not a question of if, it’s a question of when,” said Henderson.