City of Thunder Bay announces opening of warming centre

A warming centre to provide people with a space to get out of the cold is now open, while many other places that had typically been used to escape the elements have been closed due to pandemic restrictions.

City of Thunder Bay officials on Friday said an agreement has been finalized with People Advocating for Change through Empowerment to operate the centre at their Victoria Avenue location.

The facility will be open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., through at least the end of March.

Thunder Bay city council approved funding for the centre last month as part of a cold weather response plan.

A city media release identified the closure of many other locations, like malls and libraries, due to the COVID-19 pandemic as contributing to the need for a space.

"Community partners providing services to local vulnerable populations have indicated that, while overnight shelter is strained, they believe the priority gaps are in daytime warming services, and the ability to respond to winter weather extremes," Thunder Bay mayor Bill Mauro said in a statement.

The cold weather response plan's objectives are to alert those most vulnerable to exposure of current or expected conditions, enabling them to take precautions and to establish thresholds to outline stages of response.