After heat wave deaths, mourning Quebec families wonder what could have been done differently

Philippe Marceau last spoke to his father a week ago Monday, as the sun beat down on Montreal.

His father, Gilbert-Bernard Marceau, 72, sounded uncomfortable, but Philippe never suspected he was in any danger.

Two days later, he was found unconsciousin hisRosemont apartment.The windows were closed, Philippe later heard, and the air was "suffocating."

He was declared dead in hospital the sameafternoon.

"I will have this on my conscience for the rest of my days," Philippe said.

Whilethe cause of death hasn't been confirmed, andGilbert-Bernard was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer earlier this year, Philippe blames the heat.

Philippe, who lives in Cte-Saint-Paul, on the other side of the city, regrets not buying his father an air conditioner, or at leastmaking the tripto check up on him.

He urged others not to make the same mistake the next time the temperature rises.

"If you know someone who needs help, check on them," he said.

Majority of victims male, living alone

As many as 70 people are believed to have died across the province as a result of heat-related complications during theheat wave, provincial officials said.

At its peak, the temperature felt like more than 40 with the humidex.

Most of the deaths occurred in Montreal, with 34 cases reported to authorities.

According to Montreal's public health office, the majority of people who died on the island of Montrealduring the heat wave were like Gilbert-Bernard:over 60, livingalone and sufferingfrom chronic illness.

Many were dependent on community-based agenciesfor meals or home visits and other support services.

MelissaDalva,co-ordinatorof one of those agencies, theYellow Door Generations Project, took tools in hand herself last week to install an air conditioner in one client's home.

"She wasn't able to lift heavy things," said Dalva, who made the rounds of isolated seniors to make sure they were all staying cool.

"They are vulnerable."

The number ofhot days in Montreal is expected to soar in the coming years as a result of climate change. According toone projection model, between 1976 and 2005, Montreal had an average of eight days a year above 30 C.

By 2050, that couldclimb to 50 days a year.

Reluctant to leave

Health officials urged residents to check on neighbours and loved ones during the heat wave, and firefighters and police went door to door.

Sometimes, though, people at risk are reluctant to leave their home, even when it's in their best interest.

Carina Brouillet-Houle repeatedly tried to get her mother, Diane Brouillet, to join her for the week with her children in their air-conditioned home on Montreal'sSouth Shore.

But her mother refused. Brouillet-Houle likened her mother to those who defy orders to evacuate during a floodor hurricane warning.

"I tried," she said."She was comfortable there.She knows the place, and she never wanted to disturb anyone."

Brouillet was overweight andsuffered fromfibromyalgia, a disorder characterized bychronic muscle pain, fatigue andsleep problems, and she feared an air conditioner would exacerbate her symptoms.

She died inher home on thesecond floor of aLaSalleduplex, where she had lived for the last 42 years. When she was found, the heatwas "unbearable," her daughter said. Brouilletis believed to have died of a heart attack.

If Brouillet-Houle could go back in time, shewould have forced her mother to leave.

"She had a big heart," Brouillet-Houlesaid. "I just wish I would have said, 'No.I'm not taking no for an answer.'"