Air conditioning coming to sweltering COVID-19 test centre

City officials say they're working to install a rented air conditioning unit at the COVID-19 assessment centre atBrewer Arena following complaints the buildingis uncomfortably hot during the current heat wave.

Ottawa is currently under a heat warning from Environment Canada, with the humidex expected to reach at least 37for the next three days.

Brewer Arena doesn't have air conditioning, but "fans have been temporarily placed on the rink slab to helpcool the area," according to a statement from Dan Chenier, the city's general manager of recreation, cultural and facility services.

• City opens emergency cooling centres as hot weather sets in

A rented air conditioning unit is expected to be installed by the end of the week, he said.

"As the facility is primarily used as an arena, there is no need for ongoing air conditioning. However, due to the current weather conditions, work is underway to install a rented air conditioning unit," Cheniersaid.

"My wife called me, she works inside the centre [as a nurse], and just asked me to pick up a fan for her," said Cary Baxter, who was dropping off a fan at Brewer Arena Wednesday morning. "She says it's gruelling in there, everybody is sweaty and downright hot."

"I didn't find it hot, but the staff were commenting that under a few layers [of personal protective equipment] it is quite hot, and they were noticing the papers are kind of getting damp because of the humidity," said Daniel Galadza, who was at the facility to be tested.

Councillor calls for downtown cooling centre

On Tuesday, the city opened four cooling centres to help residents escape the heat during the pandemic.

Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney is calling for an additional centre to be opened in thedowntown ward.

"Both councillor [Jeff] Leiper and I have asked for Plant Recreation Centre to be opened as a cooling centre,"McKenneysaid, referring to the city's recreationfacility on Somerset Street W.

Councillor calls for more cooling centres as May heat wave continues

4 years ago

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Coun. Catherine McKenney is calling for the Plant Recreation Centre to open as a cooling centre as temperatures rise into the 30s in Ottawa.

"I was a bit disappointed to see it wasn't on the list yesterday. But we have gone back to [city] staffto reiterate our need in this part of the downtown for a space for people to come inand cool off," McKenney said.

"We all experienced how hot it got yesterday in our homes, it will again today. Many peopledon't have air conditioning, they live in multi-residentiallowrise buildings."