OKANAGAN: Community Cooling Centres Activated

Hey everyone, the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations centre has been activated to support the opening of several cooling centres, in response to the heat warning issued by Environment Canada, and has circulated an information bulletin with additional information — we are passing on the information in that bulletin here for you.

Elevated temperatures over several days put seniors, children, people with underlying health conditions and those who do not have access to air conditioning at greater risk of heat-related illness.

Starting June 27, the following locations will be available as cooling centres for the community:

City of Kelowna

  • Parkinson Activity Centre, 1700 Parkinson Way, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
  • Rutland Activity Centre, 765 Dodd Rd., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

City of West Kelowna

  • Lakeview Heights Baptist Church, 2630 Alhambra Dr., 11:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

District of Peachland

  • Peachland Community Centre, 4450 6th Street, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations bulletin outlines COVID-19 safety at cooling centres:

  • Centres will follow Provincial Health Orders for COVID-19 to keep populations safe
  • Centres will have supplies of water, masks and hand sanitizer on-hand
  • Physical distancing measures will be in place
  • Wearing masks in the cooling centres is required per the guidelines for cooling centres from the BC Centre for Disease Control.

The cooling centres will remain open until the heat wave subsides. Additional cooling centres may open in the coming week. Keep an eye on local news and cordemergency.ca. CORD Emergency officials recommend checking on neighbours and family to ensure that they are staying cool, keeping hydrated and determining whether they need any assistance.

STAY COOL: Heat Warning issued

Hey everyone, a heat warning has been issued by Environment Canada for much of the Province, including the Okanagan and the West Kootenays. Record temperatures are in the forecast from Saturday until Tuesday. Watch for heat-related illness, and be aware of the increased risk of wildfires due to drought conditions.

We’ve got information posted on sun safety on our Health and Safety page and we’ve posted SPOTLIGHTS on sun safety on our blog. There are also tips and resources on weather hazards and safety on the Government of Canada website, including how you can prepare for summer weather.

The Government of Canada website also has a page for natural hazards with information about Wildfires here.

Stay safe and healthy, and stay cool!

Outdoor Celebrations…

The Government of Canada recognizes that you may be planning to take part in a holiday celebration with people outside your immediate household. If so, check with the local public health authority to find out about gathering size (and other) limits. You can prepare for celebrations by:

  • Checking with your local public health authority about gathering size limits.
  • Ensuring that you have enough space so guests can remain at the greatest distance possible from one another.
  • Taking a COVID-19 self-assessment before attending the celebration.
  • Having pre-portioned food rather than dips and shared snack bowls.
  • Staying outside.

It is important to assess the current COVID-19 activity in your community before planning for celebrations. Only engage in celebrations if it is safe to do so. You can find more information here.

JUNE 28: CLBC COVID-19 Update

Hey everyone, CLBC has invited staff, support workers, and home sharing providers join in their teleconference on Monday, June 28, from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. (PDT) with Nicholas Simons, Minister, Social Development and Poverty Reduction, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer, to provide a COVID-19 update and to recognize the diligent and brave work of frontline support workers.

Call in: 1-877-353-9184 (participant code: 40896#)
Special Instructions:  Please start dialing in at 10:20 a.m.

You are invited to pre-submit COVID questions to CLBCInfo@gov.bc.ca by 12 p.m. on Thursday, June 24, using the words “JUNE 28 CALL” in the subject line.

For the latest information from CLBC, please visit their COVID-19 web page for service providers here.  You can also check out their full bulletin here.

Mental Health Tips…

The Government of Canada has emphasized how important it is to take care of your mental health — especially during a crisis, like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here are some tips to help you take care of your mental health:

  • Take a break from social media and the News.
  • Prioritize healthy meals, exercise, and full night’s sleep.
  • Try meditation or mindfulness.
  • Stay connected to friends and family while respecting the latest public health guidelines.

There are more tips and ways to get help here.

ONLINE: Concussion Awareness Training Tool

Hey everyone, one of our awesome employees passed along a great resource with online training about concussions provided through the BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit (BCIRPU) here. It’s called the Concussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT), and it includes educational modules and resources developed for different perspectives (i.e. taking training as a medical professional, as a coach, as a parent or caregiver…etc.). Check it out!

Stay active…

The Government of Canada has encouraged all adults aged 18 to 64 to get at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Doing this can have health benefits, including:

  • Improved morale.
  • More self-esteem.
  • Reduced risk of obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and more.

To help you stay active, it’s important to make a plan, pick a time and place, and get started. You can find more information on taking care of your physical health here.

CLBC Update for Families…

Hey everyone, join CLBC tomorrow (June 4) at 10:35 am for an update on the latest health and vaccine information and guidance on COVID-19.
Call in: 1-877-353-9184
Participant code: 28110#
* Due to the large number of participants, please call in at 10:25 a.m.

CLBC Home Share Provider Update…

Hey everyone, join in CLBC’s teleconference on June 8th for a service provider and home share provider COVID-19 update from Dr. Daniele Behn Smith (Deputy Provincial Health Officer), Ross Chilton (CEO of CLBC), and Brenda Gillette (CEO of the BC CEO Network).

When: Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Time: 1:05 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Call in: 1-877-353-9184
Participant code: 44289#

Special instructions: Due to the number of expected participants, please begin to dial in as early as 12:55 p.m.

You can submit COVID 19 questions to CLBCInfo@gov.bc.ca by noon on Friday, June 4 using the words “JUNE 8 COVID CALL” in the subject line.

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