A modest-income, 78-year-old female retiree and James Bay resident since 1999, I live alone in a top-floor one-bedroom rental unit, in a four-storey, wood-frame apartment building constructed in 1972. I have some valuable lived experience regarding the deleterious health effects of extreme heat.
During the 2021 heat dome, Victoria’s outside temperature reached 40C. In my east-facing unit with single-pane windows, and no shade overhang above my deck, it was over 45C inside. Fans could not reduce the scorching solar radiation from the roof. Inadequate air circulation in corridors and no cross breeze made the building a “hot box”. Humid hot temperatures day and night, poor air quality from wildfire smoke exacerbated the situation when windows had to be closed.
I suffered dehydration, heat stroke, and concussion from a fall in my apartment as a result of extreme heat. During the heat dome, six people in James Bay died, many of whom were elderly living alone in older rental units like mine.
According to the 2021 Census, James Bay is the largest of Victoria’s 12 neighborhoods (almost 14,000 people). It has the largest proportion of seniors in the city: 36 per cent (4,715) aged 65 plus and six per cent (840) over 85. Approximately 70 per cent of households are renters, 54 per cent of the population lives alone, and 20 per cent are low-income households.
Last year, I participated in the CRD Extreme Heat study conducted by the University of Victoria and contributed several recommendations to mitigate the dangers of extreme heat on vulnerable people living in older rental properties.
Victoria has legislated minimum interior temperatures for housing during the winter months. What we also need is a legislated maximum interior temperature not to exceed 26C during the summer months, especially in multi-residential properties. Given the climate crisis, air conditioning is imperative in old and new residential stock, or at a minimum, a mandated cool room in each rental building for vulnerable residents.
We have a bylaw to protect Victoria’s trees. Why do we not have a bylaw to protect the lives of our citizens in extreme heat?
Victoria Adams
Victoria
