Cooling spaces in Kamloops are limited despite heat warning

The Loop, community resource centre with some tents to help with the heat in Kamloops. Photo by Macarena Mantilla

Recent high temperatures have brought calls for the City of Kamloops to do more for vulnerable populations.

When a heat wave was issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada on July 6, the City of Kamloops announced that the Sandman Centre would open as an assigned cooling centre until the end of the heat wave once it became available on July 14.  Meantime, the city had offered a cooling centre at McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre.

The cooling indoor spaces offered by the city have “drinking water from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily” according to the city’s website. The city also reminds there are other resources they can access like outdoor cooling spaces such as water parks or parks with water fountains, including Prince Charles Park wading pool, however they are subject to their hours of operation. Other parks and public washrooms have been offered in the list of places people can access during the heat. 

In addition to these options, the city announced they will offer free access to the pools. Still, many remain concerned about the accessibility of these cooling spaces for all members of the community, including those living unhoused.

Community resources during Kamloops high heat

Seating area at The Loop helping clients to cool down from the heat. Photo by Macarena Mantilla

When the temperatures rise to 40 C, the homeless population is particularly vulnerable according to Glenn Hilke, the coordinator and facilitator at The Loop community resource centre. He believes the city did not plan in advance to respond to the heat warnings.

“Our intentions were to be the emergency response to the obvious heatwave that had begun on the weekend [July 5-7] that the city was not responding to,” Hilke tells The Wren.  “They offered this ridiculous alternative, telling people that are the most vulnerable…that are unhoused, [to] go for a free swim.” 

Hilke believes the cooling places offered by the city are not prepared for the level of need some living unhoused have. Danica Fletcher, a volunteer at The Loop, calls on the city to be more responsible. 

“The city ignores these people,” she says. “What happens is when they’re in this much pain, they’ll use [drugs] way more. We’re seeing people using way, way more just to survive the elements.”

While rising temperatures are not new, Fletcher believes that part of the problem is that the general public does not understand how hard high heat can be for individuals living on the street. People who spend the night in local emergency shelters have to vacate each morning with their belongings.

“They carry backpacks that are probably 10 pounds,” Fletcher says. “They walk 22 miles [35 kilometres] per day, on average, and most of them have health issues they aren’t taking care of. Then they’re faced with all the elements as well.”

While at The Loop, The Wren chatted with some folks trying to stay cool as temperatures rose. They were in a group spraying some water on each other before The Loop opened at 10 am.

A hose, available for the clients of The Loop to help with the heat. Photo by Macarena Mantilla

Shayla, who chose not to share her last name, says she recently suffered from heat stroke. She went into McDonalds to ask for water but no one helped her.

“No one gave me water,” Shayla recalls. After some time, an Indigenous Elder saw her and gave her water. They were the only person who helped her. 

Brody also chose not to share his last name and says even just setting up tents outside and sprinklers would help them a lot. 

“It’s been quite the struggle. A lot of people don’t have the resources, even bottles of water. The city has to provide. There are a lot of struggles out here. There are not enough cooling stations and people can overheat. They can die.” 

Tass, a woman who accessed The Loop says she feels welcomed there, but she does feel like some people treat them differently based on perception. 

“They need to look at us like human beings,” Tass says. “If you have more than two bags, then they treat you differently.” 

Shayla, Tass and Brody agree they have to stick together so they can take care of each other. They worry about judgment and poor treatment if they use social spaces like the pool to cool off. 

“Society doesn’t want to look at us as equals,” Brody says. “If we were to go to the pool it doesn’t matter, the families will look at us as not equals. They are going to look at us as if we were going to take their stuff.”

City response to the Kamloops high heat  

Ty Helgason is the emergency preparedness manager for the city, and he is handling the heat alert response. 

“When we activate the Sandman Center cooling centre, the key lounge which is off to the side, is available for community outreach workers, and particularly the workers from the Gathering Place outdoor day space to be able to move some of their services inside,” Helgason tells The Wren. “My first recommendation to folks would be to check out our website as everything is already on that website. Access cool spaces however you can.”

The city is encouraging health checks in the community and have shared some information from provincial health authorities through the website. For the unhoused community, Helgason suggests accessing resources such as Ask Wellness or the Mustard Seed, adding that the Loop is also a resource they can also access. 

The Loop has challenged the city’s level of support for unhoused residents on numerous occasions and been deemed a nuisance property by the city.

According to Helgason, the only cooling centre offered by the city would be the one operating at the Sandman Centre. When asked if they are any other plans or places people can access he mentioned that this would be the only one. 

A water station at The Loop, keeping clients hydrated. Photo by Macarena Mantilla

While The Loop is acting as a resource, the organization is only meant to operate through the end of this month. According to Hilke, the landlord is trying to evict them by the end of July even though they still have 18 months left in their lease. 

“If we do not see any serious action to ensure that people are safe from the weather, have their access to more than one meal a day…if that doesn’t exist, then we will not leave. And if we have to take the new landlord to court, we will do that,” Hilke says.

Fletcher shares her concern in the case they will have to shut down and people who access The Loop also share their worry. 

“What are we going to do? Where are we going to get our food? Where are we going to be able to come to?”, I have people hugging me and crying. And I don’t have an answer for that,”  Fletcher says. 

The Loop is always accepting donations whether that is monetary value or items. People can donate freezies, water, gatorade, clothes or anything that will help with keeping people cold in the high temperatures. 

For any monetary donations, e-transfer kcmtloop@gmail.com, or go directly to The Loop located on 405 Tranquille Road. If you have any other donation inquiries you can contact 250-879-0465.