The City of Campbell River will open an overnight warming centre for the first time this winter on Sunday for those sheltering outside due to cold weather.
The Campbell River Community Centre at 401 11th Ave. will be staffed and open at 10 p.m. Sunday and stay open until 7 a.m. Monday as a warming centre.
Temperatures are expected to drop to 3 C that night, according to an Environment Canada forecast.
In a statement, the city’s director of community safety Jeff Ford called warming centres a “life-saving emergency response” for people facing extreme weather without a home.
Pets and belongings, such as bikes and carts, will be allowed in and hot drinks and snacks will be provided for visitors, the statement said.
Seating is available but no beds will be provided for the night, it said.
Campbell River’s overnight warming centre can be activated at the discretion of city manager Elle Brovold if low temperatures, rain, or storm events trigger the city’s extreme weather plan or if temperatures drop below –4 C.
Funding for the centre is jointly provided by the City of Campbell River and B.C.’s Ministry of Emergency Climate Readiness, the city said.
