While Victoria, B.C., is on average the “warmest city in Canada”, these past weeks’ temperatures have not lived up to that title.

The city has experienced record-breaking low temperatures, and as a result, there’s concern for people experiencing homelessness, who are not accustomed to dealing with this type of extreme cold.

During days of extreme weather, the city of Victoria triggers the Emergency Weather Response, which allows The Salvation Army to temporarily expand the capacity of its emergency shelter at the Addictions and Rehabilitation Center, becoming an extreme weather shelter.

The Extreme Weather Shelter is open from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. Clients who access the shelter are registered and offered a hot meal and a place to have a good night’s sleep.

The high demand brings logistical challenges for the staff at the shelter. Thankfully they have been able to deal with it so far. However, it is a reminder that they could use whatever support from the community that they can get.