Quebec’s traditional July 1 moving day, when many residential leases end and new ones begin, is unfolding under a heat warning covering much of southern Quebec, including in Hochelaga where temperatures are expected to feel up to 45 degrees today in Montreal.
“It’s gonna be a very hot day. People forget that moving is exhausting and physical and difficult work in normal circumstances. When it’s hot like this, it takes a lot of planning and precautions. So today we bought a lot of water. We have teams that are going around, bringing bottles and fresh shirts to our movers so that they can keep on working because they’ll be plowing out, not just one, not just two, but three to five jobs today,” said Marcel Lajeunesse, the director of operations for Le Clan Panneton.
Some movers in Montreal got an early start, hoping to complete the heaviest lifting before afternoon temperatures climbed.
“Today so far we’ve got two, but it’s very, very possible that we might have to help out another team or we’ll get like a third move altogether,” said Charles D’Orsonnens, a mover with Le Clan Panneton.
As moving day got closer, some Montrealers got an unpleasant surprise. The moving company Le Clan Panneton says it received an unusual number of last-minute calls from people who had been scammed. In the past two days alone, the company says it took on about 20 emergency moves, with 10 teams out on the road Wednesday.
“We have been receiving a lot of very late calls in the last two days. As people find out, unfortunately, that they’ve been scammed. They took that job on Facebook for $70 an hour and two guys and were those three very competitive quotes that they were gonna get after filling an online form. And unfortunately, there’s nobody there today,” said Lajeunesse.
On Wednesday afternoon, Montreal and Laval’s ambulance authority Urgences-santé said it did not see an unusual spike in calls related to heat stroke or heat exhaustion on Wednesday. Still, officials are reminding people to watch for symptoms like headaches, dizziness and nausea, and to seek medical help immediately if someone becomes confused, loses consciousness or suffers convulsions.
“I’d like to wish good luck to everyone moving, whether it be professional movers or just regular people moving out altogether. I wish you good luck and please, please drink your water, please,” said D’Orsonnens.
Lajeunesse added, “Some people will fortunately come to their new homes and will be very happy with their new familiar aspects, but some people will not be that fortunate. 311 City Montreal has a hotline set up for people who are caught and stuck in between a rock and a hard place, and we know there’s gonna be more this year than any time before.”
Environment Canada forecast daytime highs between 30 and 33 C, with humidex values making it feel like 40 to 45 C.
Montreal public health officials urged people to start moving as early as possible, drink plenty of water and take frequent breaks to reduce the risk of heat-related illness.
Doctors also warned that heat combined with heavy lifting can increase the risk of dehydration, dizziness, falls and back injuries.
Environment Canada says the heat warning is expected to remain in effect through Saturday.
-With files from the Canadian Press
