COQUITLAM, B.C., July 21, 2026 – As temperatures start to climb, the City of Coquitlam is sharing resources to help you prepare to stay safe and comfortable.

There are a number of resources to help residents prepare for extreme heat, whether you live in a house, rental apartment or condo. Information is also available for rental building owners, strata councils and property managers. 

Safety tips are also available to help seniors stay cool during hot weather. Family members, friends and neighbours are encouraged to check in and help older adults – especially those who live alone or do not have air conditioning – make a plan to stay safe.

Get Support to Cool Your Living Space

During longer stretches of hot weather, indoor temperatures can remain high long after the sun goes down. Living spaces trapping heat can make some people's homes uncomfortable and – in cases of extreme heat – dangerous, especially for young children, older adults, people who live alone and those with chronic health conditions.

• Strata councils, residents and managers can register to attend a webinar organized by the Condominium Home Owners Association of BC (CHOA) and the Zero Emissions Innovation Center (ZEIC) on Wednesday, July 29 at 12 p.m. to learn how to identify overheating risks and cooling solutions. Registration is required – details at coquitlam.ca/EnergyUpgrades.

If residents can’t attend the webinar, a Cooler Condos Guide is also available. This publication addresses overheating challenges and considerations specific to British Columbia’s residential strata buildings. It outlines how both residents and strata councils can help ensure safety and comfort. 

Strata councils can also access expert advisors through the free Strata Energy Advisor program, part of ZEIC’s BC Retrofit Accelerator. The program offers professional support to explore and plan upgrades to your building, as well as navigate available government and utilities rebates.

• Homeowners can find rebates and expert advice with a free Clean BC Energy Coach or certified Energy Advisor to help identify upgrades that can make homes cooler and more energy efficient.
• Building owners or property managers can access LandlordBC’s Rental Apartment Retrofit Accelerator. This free program provides expert engineering support to help plan and complete energy upgrades that can enhance cooling and comfort.
• All residents, including renters can access programs to help improve cooling and comfort. BC Hydro is offering instant rebates on select high-efficiency air conditioners and air purifiers (offers available until August 21, 2026). Individuals referred by regional health authority programs may be eligible for a free portable air-conditioner.

Extreme Heat Safety for Seniors

People aged 65 and over, especially those who live alone or have underlying health conditions, can be more vulnerable during extreme heat. The City's Emergency Management office has created a brochure with tips on how seniors can stay safe during a heat event. Copies can be picked up at both City senior community centres, Dogwood and Glen Pine Pavilions. It is also available on the City's warm weather resource webpage, coquitlam.ca/WarmWeather. 

The webpage also includes additional resources to help community members beat the heat, including a complete list of outdoor pools and free spray parks, as well as up-to-date resources from the provincial government, Fraser Health and HealthLink BC. Residents are reminded that, at all times, everyone is welcome to visit Coquitlam’s cooled public indoor spaces during regular business hours, including Coquitlam City Hall and all recreation centres. 

Media contacts:

Caresse Selk
Senior Manager Environment
epw@coquitlam.ca 

Eva Kaczmarczyk
Manager Risk and Emergency Program
EmergencyProgram@coquitlam.ca 

We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (HUN-kuh-MEE-num) word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-KWET-lum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee), and other Coast Salish Peoples.