8. Extreme heat neighbourhood resilience program
A volunteer distributes a "cool kit" with electrolytes, n95 masks, sunscreen, baseball hat, thermometer, fan, and guidelines to stay safe. Photo: City of Vancouver
See it in action
City of Vancouver, BC – Extreme heat toolkit
Community programs can offer practical services, as well as social or recreational activities and opportunities to learn new skills and hobbies. As extreme weather events become more common, there is also a growing focus on community programs that support emergency preparedness and community resilience.
Challenge: Older adults are disproportionately at risk during extreme heat events. After a heat dome in 2021, British Columbia’s chief coroner reported that the highest number of deaths occurred among older adults who had chronic health conditions or lived on their own.
Solution overview: Launched in 2017, the City of Vancouver’s Resilient Neighbourhood Program works with community organizations to develop and support plans for emergency
preparedness, climate adaptation, and social connection.
In one initiative, the City developed an extreme heat toolkit, providing guidelines for local organizations to prepare and support residents during extreme heat events. Neighbourhood houses and local organizations have become important community hubs during extreme heat events.
For example, they help distribute essential supplies, serve as dedicated cooling spaces, and offer games, food, movies, and other activities to draw people in. Some neighbourhood houses also offer land-based cooling programs for Indigenous Elders.
Neighbourhood houses also run peer-support programs, organizing volunteers to conduct heat check-ins on older adults, and offering resources in different languages to explain heat risks and what to do during emergencies. During heat check-ins, volunteers distribute cool kits, fans, coolers, and cold drinks to at-risk residents.
Solution overview: Launched in 2017, the City of Vancouver’s Resilient Neighbourhood Program works with community organizations to develop and support plans for emergency
preparedness, climate adaptation, and social connection.
In one initiative, the City developed an extreme heat toolkit, providing guidelines for local organizations to prepare and support residents during extreme heat events. Neighbourhood houses and local organizations have become important community hubs during extreme heat events.
For example, they help distribute essential supplies, serve as dedicated cooling spaces, and offer games, food, movies, and other activities to draw people in. Some neighbourhood houses also offer land-based cooling programs for Indigenous Elders.
Neighbourhood houses also run peer-support programs, organizing volunteers to conduct heat check-ins on older adults, and offering resources in different languages to explain heat risks and what to do during emergencies. During heat check-ins, volunteers distribute cool kits, fans, coolers, and cold drinks to at-risk residents.
Relevance to the guidelines
Strategy 1.1 Land use designation
Strategy 1.2 Street grids
Strategy 1.3 Building form
Strategy 1.4 Transit routes
Strategy 1.5 Open spaces