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As many Winnipeggers try their best to stay cool and hydrated indoors amid sweltering heat and humidity on Saturday, some outreach organizations have been collecting water bottles to hand out to vulnerable people living on the city’s streets.
Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued an orange-level heat warning for southern Manitoba, warning that the region is expected to see temperatures in the mid-to-high 30s and humidex values in the mid 40s over the next few days.
Temperatures likely won’t cool down until Tuesday, when the mercury is expected to drop slightly into the low 30s or high 20s, the federal agency said.
Siloam Mission’s development director Margot Ross said the extreme hot weather is “life-threatening” for community members who have few options but to stay outside in the heat.
“Folks are very vulnerable in these temperatures …This extreme heat does kill,” Ross said.
Ross said people experiencing homelessness, who may have limited access to shaded areas or air-conditioned indoor spaces, can come to the shelter to have a cold drink, eat a meal and cool down inside.
Siloam serves about 1,600 meals and gives out hundreds of water bottles per day — and the level of need is rising in lockstep with temperatures, Ross said.
“We give out a lot of water — over 600 bottles a day — because extreme heat kills,” she said, adding front-line staff also do rounds of the building’s perimeter, handing out ice packs for people to quell body temperatures.
“With these extreme temperatures, it’s created extreme demands in our community.”
Siloam is seeking donations for light summer clothing, such as T-shirts, shorts, sunhats, sandals and new socks. The shelter also needs sunscreen and food donations, Ross said.
More people are coming into Siloam’s on-site medical centre with symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, she said.
Just a short walk away, Carina Blumgrund and Mitch Bourbonniere were handing out water bottles to people outside Main Street Project on Saturday morning ahead of a larger event organized through OPK (Okichidah Pimahtisiwin Kiskinawmatowin) later that night.
Blumgrund, who organized the water bottle drive, said a group of volunteers will be offering water bottles, sports drinks and freezies to vulnerable people in the area starting at 6 p.m.
“We’re keeping people alive. This is really life-threatening, this heat,” she said.
Blumgrund, who also organizes winter glove drives, said she worries about unhoused people in Winnipeg, as they are often forced to experience extreme heat and extreme cold — which can range from 40 C to –40 C — for prolonged periods of time.
“These are our fellow neighbours that we’re helping,” she said.
OPK outreach worker Mitch Bourbonniere said their plan is to fan out through the north Main Street area, doing wellness checks and making sure people are staying hydrated.
“It’s dangerous and we just want to make sure people are OK out there. We want to check on them and we want to make sure they’re hydrating,” Bourbonniere said.
“It’s really important that we all, in our society, not forget our most vulnerable brothers and sisters at any time of the year — but especially when it’s blazing hot and especially when it’s freezing cold.”
Volunteers and staff are trying to help people experiencing homelessness stay hydrated and find reprieve from the weather this weekend. Much of southern Manitoba is seeing sizzling temperatures this weekend as Environment Canada says it could feel as hot as 45 C with the humidex in some areas.
