Update December 31, 2021
The Warming Centre at the CVRD 770 Harmston Avenue location in Courtenay will be extended until Sunday 8 am. The warming centre will be open 8 pm until 8 am tonight (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday) evening. Following this extension, CVRD staff will be monitoring the extreme weather forecast to determine day by day the centre's requirement until January 4, 2022 when EMBC extreme weather funding support expires.
Update December 30, 2021
Continued freezing temperatures over the next few days have prompted the Comox Valley Regional District Emergency Program to extend operations of the Extreme Weather Warming Centre at the CVRD's Civic Room located at 770 Harmston Ave in Courtenay until 8 am on Saturday, January 1. The centre was opened on December 26 to provide a safe, dry space from 8 pm until 8 am. The centre is staffed with the appropriate personnel to ensure all proper safety precautions are adhered to. These facilities are wheelchair accessible.
The first principle of the BC Emergency Management System is to Ensure the Health and Safety of all Volunteers and First Responders. The second principle is to Save Lives which is what an Extreme Weather Warming Centre seeks to accomplish. Access to a warm and dry space could be the difference between life and death for those who are under housed and for people experiencing homelessness during extreme weather. Funding for this activation is provided by the Province through Emergency Management BC.
The CVRD would like to thank our community partners, staff and volunteers who have taken time away from their families during the holiday season to support this emergency response.
The Comox Valley Regional District is a federation of three electoral areas and three municipalities providing sustainable services for residents and visitors to the area. The members of the regional district work collaboratively on services for the benefit of the diverse urban and rural areas of the Comox Valley.
Media Contact:
Howie Siemens
Manager of Emergency Programs
Tel: 250-334-6488