Thursday July 28, 2022 | COLWOOD, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Need a place to get cool? As the current heat wave continues, the misting station at Royal Roads University (RRU) campus — down at the Esquimalt Lagoon shoreline — will be open for a second day.
Today the misting station was set up by the Colwood Fire Department and managed for three hours in the afternoon by Royal Roads campus grounds keepers.
People would pull up for a bit of misty relief, in small groups. A few people arrived with dogs who also enjoyed the moist spray.
The misting station is set up on pavement by a boat house, so no muddy feet.
On hand today to operate the pop-up facility were RRU groundskeepers Tony Corak, John Kwaksistala, and Dom Sawyer.
Open again Friday July 29:
During the current heat wave, Royal Roads University (RRU) is inviting community residents to stay cool at a local misting station.
The misting station will be open again on Friday July 29 from 1 to 5 pm.
It’s a fine mist, just enough to be dampened all over.
Getting to the RRU misting station:
If you’ve not been to the campus before (or recently), enter the campus off Sooke Road onto University Drive. Follow University Drive right down to the water. There is ample parking.
More information can be found at the following link: Stay cool at RRU: misting station this Thursday & Friday | Royal Roads University
Other spray parks and misting stations:
There are spray parks, misting stations and some cooling stations in the west shore. See this map of Spray Parks, Parks, Lake & Beach Access, water fountains, and air conditioned public spaces (map by City of Langford GIS).
Heat wave all week:
The current heat wave started a few days ago.
Friday July 22 saw the start of higher temperatures, with a record temperature in Victoria at 31°C set on Monday July 25, 2022.
Earlier this week, highs of 30°C were the steady Environment Canada forecast for Victoria for July 26 to July 28.
While the temperature forecast is now in the 27°C to 29°C range for July 28 through 30, the heat wave is expected to last through this coming weekend. Temperatures are high during the day under cloudless skies, but also don’t cool down too much in the evening.
Adapting to heat:
People remember last year’s heat dome (which was about 10 degrees hotter than this year’s heat wave) and are more aware of the health-impacts of becoming over-heated.
People are remembering to drink more water, and sleep in the cooler part of their home.
Keeping windows and blinds closed during the day helps keep heat out, while opening them in the evening will help cool room interiors down.
Remember the good ol’ days?
Years ago, people used sprinklers in their own yards for cooling in the heat, or filled up splash pools for the kids. With more people living in high-density buildings in urban areas, the need for misting stations has emerged.
===== RELATED:
It’s hot out there – know the signs of heat exhaustion (July 26, 2022)
===== ABOUT THE WRITER:
Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., Cert PR is the editor and publisher of Island Social Trends, an online news portal covering the west shore, Greater Victoria area, south Vancouver Island region, BC and national news.
Ms Brooke has led a series of publications since 2008 on the west shore, starting with the colour quarterly MapleLine Magazine 2008-2010, then the weekly print Sooke Voice News newspaper 2011-2013, and the weekly colour print & PDF West Shore Voice News 2014-2020. All of that led to the emergence of Island Social Trends mid-2020.
She interviews newsmakers and delves into community socioeconomic trends.
Mary is the proud mother of four grown children who are making their impacts in the world in public health, financial software engineering, animal welfare, and creative writing and costume design.