City of Kelowna moves into Level 2 weather protocol, warming tent activated

For the archetypal clip this winter, freezing temperatures person prompted the City of Kelowna to determination into a Level 2 acold upwind protocol arsenic of Monday.

“With a Level 2, that is erstwhile we scope betwixt -10 C and -19 C. That is erstwhile we unfastened up caller options for individuals surviving outdoors,” said Ali Westlund, the outdoor sheltering coordinator for the City of Kelowna.

The metropolis activated a warming structure acceptable up astatine the obstruction trail, arsenic good arsenic warming buses stationed passim Kelowna.

“We tin person up to 50 individuals successful that structure a night. First nighttime retired we had individuals successful determination for astir of the night, small quieter earlier Tuesday morning. It was astatine afloat usage,” said Westlund.

The structure is simply a aviator task betwixt the metropolis and Kelowna’s Gospel Mission, who person outreach unit perpetually monitoring radical sheltering outside.

“Our squad provides meal and meal astatine the warming structure and erstwhile work is done there, they caput to the downtown core,” said Troy McKnight, Kelowna Gospel Mission.

“They spell looking for radical who are surviving unsheltered successful our community, checking for signs of hypothermia oregon exposure, they’re capable to supply them with warming blankets and toques.”

Gospel Mission unit proceed that enactment astatine the warming tent, done the night.

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“We person 2 outreach unit who enactment overnight with 1 information person, to attraction for radical they’re besides looking for signs of hypothermia,” said McKnight.

The archetypal nighttime astatine the tent, according to the city, was a success.

“We checked successful Tuesday morning, we checked successful with everyone progressive successful it, we had nary issues, we didn’t person thing originate Monday night,” said Westlund.

The warming structure is expected to stay unfastened until astatine slightest Friday, and radical are urged to usage immoderate disposable structure beds.

“Last I heard determination are inactive immoderate beds disposable and of course, we’re encouraging radical to determination into the structure beds,” said Westlund.

The obstruction way is location to 56 per cent of Kelowna’s unsheltered population.