Burnaby RCMP is deploying extra resources to reach out to vulnerable and unhoused people endangered by the ongoing heatwave.
The detachment started sending out proactive patrols on Friday to gas stations, SkyTrain stations and homeless camps in parks and elsewhere to hand out water and flyers showing where the city’s cooling centres are.
“Some of the camps took 20 minutes to find, but, based on (officers’) knowledge of these camps and the area, they were located,” said Burnaby RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Mike Kalanj.
Over the weekend, he said community response team officers handed out numerous bottles of water and connected three people with the Progressive Housing Society, a local charity that provides services to adults living with mental health issues or facing homelessness.
Burnaby RCMP’s bike section and mental health outreach team will be out today (Monday) and tomorrow, according to Kalanj.
“The officers from each of these sections have the most knowledge of the homeless camps and the community issues,” he said.
The City of Burnaby has set up cooling locations from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the underground parkades at the following locations:
- Edmonds Community Centre (7433 Edmonds St.)
- McGill Library (4595 Albert St.)
- Bob Prittie Metrotown Library (6100 Willingdon Ave.)
Public libraries are also air conditioned and open as locations to cool off during normal operating hours.
Find out more information here: https://bit.ly/35QhSWz.
