Sydney – Climate comfort centres play an essential role during extreme weather events, offering residents a place to shelter, charge devices, use the internet and check in with family and friends.
By providing a space where people can feel safe, supported, and connected during times of uncertainty, climate comfort centres help communities recover more quickly once the crisis has passed.
Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton-Canso, announced $120,000 in non-repayable funding to the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) to upgrade and equip the Big Pond Volunteer Fire Department as a community comfort centre. The announcement was made on behalf of Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA.
Enhancements include the installation of a new furnace and electrical panel upgrades as well as 35 new solar panels, and EV charging stations, making the facility greener and completely self-sufficient. These improvements will ensure residents have a safe and welcoming place to go during storms as well as providing a year-round community hub.
This announcement further demonstrates the Government of Canada’s commitment to helping communities prepare for possible climate-related disasters.
“Atlantic Canadians know that to weather the storm, we need to pull together. ACOA and your federal government have your backs—we are investing to make sure that new climate comfort centres like the one in Big Pond have the capacity and resources to support and shelter folks when they need it most and get them back on their feet.” – Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA