City implements extreme weather protocols

By Lethbridge Herald on January 12, 2024.

Herald photo by Al Beeber Two people take shelter by a wall in Galt Gardens on Thursday. The City says the extreme weather poses a substantial threat to vulnerable populations.

The City of Lethbridge on Thursday activated its extreme weather response protocols to provide people without shelter a safe and warm space.

The City has designated several facilities as comfort centres to provide shelter from this week’s extreme temperatures. They include:

Public Library Main branch

• Mon – Tues. 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

• Saturday 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

• Sunday 1 – 5 p.m.

Public Library Crossings Branch

• Mon. to Wed. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

• Thurs. and Fri. 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

• Saturday 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

• Sunday 1 – 5 p.m.

Park n’ Ride Transit terminal

• Mon. to Fri. 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.

• Saturday 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.

• Sunday 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Helen Schuler Nature Centre

• Tues. to Fri. 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

• Saturday and Sunday 1 – 4 p.m.

Other organizations offering daytime supports include Interfaith Foodbank, Lethbridge Foodbank, Lethbridge Soup Kitchen and Streets Alive, says the City.

An extreme cold warning by Environment Canada says “a long period of extreme temperatures and windchills” is continuing.

Last night temperatures were expected to dip to -29C. By mid-afternoon today, the temperature is expected to reach -30 with a low tonight of -39. Temperatures will remain cold on the weekend but will be expected to improve Monday when a high of -12 is forecast.

Environment Canada says residents can expect windchills to approach -50C on the weekend.

The City says the weather poses “a substantial threat to vulnerable populations and anyone with a requirement to be outdoors” with frostbite possible in minutes.

Extreme cold can also impact infrastructure with freezing waterlines a possibility.

The weather has prompted the City to postpone its Christmas tree collection scheduled for Saturday. It will now go ahead on Jan. 20.

The City says that for 30 years it and local youth groups have partnered on the program, diverting 1.5 million kilograms – or about 95,000 trees – from the landfill. All trees will have to be outside in front of homes or in alleys, depending on where garbage is picked up, for collection by 7 a.m. on the 20th. All decorations must be removed first because trees have to be bare for the wood chipper.