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B.C. government marks 5 years since heat dome killed hundreds
Officials say most deaths happened indoors and many victims lived alone, prompting new heat alerts and preparedness measures across the province.
New Westminster Mayor Patrick Johnstone has prioritized cooling initiatives after the 2021 heat dome killed 33 people in the community, including a new bylaw requiring landlords to maintain safe indoor temperatures.
During the 2021 heat dome, 619 people died across British Columbia, with New Westminster suffering the highest per-capita death toll in the province as vulnerable individuals without cooling were hardest hit.
Installed at a cost of about $10,000 to $15,000 each, the city now has 13 misting stations and passed a bylaw requiring landlords to maintain safe temperatures in at least one room of rental apartments.
TransLink faces challenges during the FIFA World Cup as roughly 75 per cent of the SkyTrain fleet is air-conditioned, leaving portions of the system without cooling during peak demand.
Provincial health officials warn that heat events are not singular occurrences, while the city plans to expand its cooling network, acknowledging gaps remain where vulnerable populations face the highest risks.