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New Westminster expands cooling centres for heatwave

Century House and Queensborough Community Centre are now open around the clock
Julie MacLellan
Julie MacLellan
Cooling down with fan
If you're having trouble staying cool, the City of New Westminster has expanded its cooling centre operations for this heatwave.Povozniuk/Getty Images

New Westminster is expanding its cooling centres as B.C. stares down the second major heatwave in a month.

Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for Metro Vancouver and much of the rest of B.C. for today through Saturday night. Though temperatures aren't expected to reach the extreme levels caused by the heat dome that enveloped the province at the end of June, New Westminster's temperature is still expected to hit 32C today and 34C tomorrow. Temperatures are also expected to remain relatively high overnight, with nighttime temperatures in the high teens, making it more difficult to remain cool.

Four cooling centres are now open and will remain in operation as needed – with expanded hours and two new locations.

The city is once again opening both Century House and Queensborough Community Centre, and both locations will now be open around the clock. 

It has also added two new locations: Anvil Centre and the New Westminster Public Library. 

Cooling centres include water and chairs in an air-conditioned space as a refuge from the heat. The centres will be staffed by city employees.

Anyone who needs to use a centre is asked to bring any required medications and essential supplies.

Those who need help getting to and from a cooling centre may contact Royal City Taxi at 604-521-6666 for free transportation within New Westminster.

Pets are welcome at three of the four centres (with the exception of the library). Pet owners are encouraged to bring travel crates to house their pets, and they should bring necessary supplies such as food and poop bags.

Here are all the details:

Century House

620 Eighth St.
Hours of operation are 24/7
Pets welcome (pets and their owners will be in a separate area)

Queensborough Community Centre

920 Ewen Ave.
Hours of operation are 24/7
Pets welcome

Anvil Centre

777 Columbia St.
12 noon to 12 midnight
Pets welcome

New Westminster Public Library

716 Sixth Ave.
Extended hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
No pets
 

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