Smithers is currently home to approximately 40 unhoused people. The town has zoned a portion of Veterans Park (a grassy area between the town library and town hall) as ‘tent city’, a fenced-off area where tents can be erected and at times meals are served for the people who stay there.
However, On January 8th, Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a Yellow Weather Warning regarding a cold arctic outflow moving across the Province of British Columbia. This warning showed a possible temperature drop to -34 degrees Celsius overnight.
Acting fast, The Smithers Emergency Program worked closely with the Smithers Situation table (a group of individuals who represent a plethora of social and provincial services) to provide emergency shelter for the people at tent city.
Will George, the Director for Community Services in Smithers spoke to CICK News about what they are doing to help people who are out in the cold.
