REGINA — With Regina under a heat warning from Environment Canada, spaces are available across the city for people to seek shelter.
Lindsay DesRochers, City of Regina co-ordinator of social policies and programs, talked about what these spaces offer people.
“They can access clothing that might be more appropriate for the weather. A lot of water is being provided in the summer for them,” she said.
All cooling spaces in the city also operate as shelters in the winter.
DesRochers said there is a brief adjustment switching from a warming space to a cooling space, which poses no issues for these organizations.
“Lots of these community organizations are very used to serving a variety of different people throughout the year.”
Multiple times a year, the city will reach out to organizations to see which are offering cooling spaces and update a full list on its pages.
“If you're a community organization, you serve residents here in Regina. You provide a drop-in space that you would encourage folks to access. Then we're happy to have you on the poster.”
Unlike winter shelters, DesRochers said organizations manage funding for cooling spaces.
This also means some cooling spaces can remain open longer.
“Street Culture has this new location called the tree house, and it's drop-in programming for youth. So you do have to be a youth to access that, but it's open until 10 p.m.”
"Also major leisure centres are often open until 9 p.m. Libraries are often open until 9 p.m. as well,” she added.
Through monthly committee meetings, DesRochers said the city believes it is currently in a good position regarding the number of available cooling spaces.
However, extended hours for cooling spaces or a greater need for locations could arise in the coming years, she noted.
