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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.
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The Toronto StarThe Toronto Star
+25 Reposted by 25 other sources
Lean Left

B.C. government marks 5 years since heat dome killed hundreds

VANCOUVER - A stifling heat dome that sat over much of British Columbia five years ago is being remembered by the provincial health officer as traumatic for people who lost

·Toronto, Canada
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CBC News broke the news in Canada on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
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