There will be only three cool down locations open for Saskatoon’s homeless during the Canada Day weekend with the Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership working double time to get the word out as the city could continue to experience hot temperatures in the next five days. It was bright and sunny on Tuesday with temperatures reaching a high of 34 degrees Celsius, which feels like 36, according to Weather Canada.
SHIP has also convened its Extreme Weather Strategy team to reassess and, if necessary, make the necessary changes on the policies implemented by the non-profit group during incidents of extreme weather conditions.
“The EWS is designed to ensure designated cooling spaces are in place for Saskatoon’s homeless population, greatly reducing their risk of heat exposure-related illnesses during the summer months,” SHIP said on its website.
SHIP Communications Manager Andrea Ledding said Environment Canada had informed them it would get hotter in the coming days with temperatures reaching as high as 39 degrees Celsius on Friday, July 2, the second day of a four-day Canada Day weekend. She added that the hot temperatures would continue even in the nighttime.
She added that SHIP, like several other non-profit organizations operating in the city, will be closed during the Canada Day weekend.
“We [SHIP] will be closed from July 1 to July 4. So, [Tuesday and Wednesday] we will have to do a weeks’ worth of campaigning.”
The Lighthouse has seen an average of close to 70 visitors during the day but people who stopped by are allowed for a short period only as their facility is for water distribution only. The Lighthouse is open 24/7 and will be in operation during the Canada Day weekend along with the Salvation Army (24/7) and Friendship Inn (daily from 8 a.m..- 3 p.m., water and food distribution only) that are located mostly along 20th Street on the West Side.
Paved Arts (noon – 6 p.m. Wednesday), OutSaskatoon (9 a.m. -5 p.m. Wednesday), CUMFI (8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Wednesday, water and food distribution only with cool down trailer included), Prairie Harm Reduction (9 a.m. -4 p.m. Wednesday), Persons Living with AIDS Network of Saskatchewan (9 a.m. -4 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m Friday) EGADZ (youth only Wednesday and Friday 8 a.m. -9 p.m., Saturday 1 p.m. -9 p.m.), Westside Community Clinic (9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Wednesday and Friday), and Saskatoon Indian & Metis Friendship Centre (10 a.m. -4:30 p.m. Wednesday and Friday) will be closed on July while Station 20 West will be closed on July 1 and 2, and will resume its 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. operations on Monday, July 6.
Environment Canada has issued an extreme heat warning with the prolonged heat wave expected to cover mostly Southern Saskatchewan. Some areas could experience above 35 degrees Celsius, which may not not let up even at nighttime as temperatures will likely only remain in the mid teens overnight.
Young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, people who are working or exercising outdoors, and pets are at risk of suffering from any heat-related illnesses or conditions. Swelling, rashes, cramps, fainting, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and worsening of health conditions of people who have chronic illnesses are the effects of extreme heat.
