Under the Emergency Program Act, the City of Kamloops is required to prepare and plan for local emergency events. Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and BC Public Health continue to lead the BC heat alert response system coordination efforts.

The City will activate a heat alert response protocol when Environment and Climate Change Canada issue a heat warning for Kamloops. This will include activating indoor cooling spaces, promoting neighbour health checks, and sharing the BC heat alert and response system messaging prior to, during, and after activations through the City website and social media channels and by working with neighbourhood associations and other stakeholders. A heat warning is issued when the daytime high temperature is forecast to be 35°C or greater and the nighttime low temperature does not go below 18°C for two or more days in a row.

The Sandman Centre concourse has been recommended as the official site for an indoor cooling centre when a heat warning has been issued. City staff and recreational contractors, where appropriate, will provide staffing and oversight in the space. Continue reading...