Edmonton festival organizers plan for summer heat wave

As the City of Edmonton activates its extreme weather response with temperatures expected to rise this week. Organizers at Taste of Edmonton in Churchill Square say they’re prepared to keep festivalgoers cool.

“We’ve got lots of umbrellas and misting stations. We have several different things to get people out of the elements and protected,” explained Donovan Vienneau, the general manager of Taste of Edmonton.

With the Taste of Edmonton celebrating its 40th anniversary and taking over Churchill Square in downtown Edmonton starting this Thursday, Vienneau says summertime heat strategy is something he and his team spend weeks planning.

Temperatures will rise as Edmonton sweats through another heatwave. Still, organizers say it’s still not as bad as the wildfire smoke the festival had to contend with last year. But Vienneau says they’ve stepped up precautions this year.

“We’ve heightened our first aid team as well as well in advance of Taste of Edmonton.”

Festival organizers say they’ll be closely following the City of Edmonton’s extreme weather protocol guidelines which were activated Monday in advance of a week-long heat wave.

That means the city will have access to drinkable water stations in neighbourhoods all across Edmonton. Peace officers will also carry bottles of water to give out to Edmonton’s vulnerable population.

Also, anyone is able to seek shelter from the heat in city recreation centres and libraries.

As for the heat, meteorologists with Environment and Climate Change Canada say they expect it to last about a week with temperatures hovering in the low 30s. But things could potentially heat up to jump past 35 degrees this weekend

“There really won’t be any reprieve from the heat in the overnight hours, which really amplifies the heat risks in those most vulnerable,” explained Justin Shelley, meteorologist.

Officials at Alberta Health Services say EMS has responded to 46-heat-related emergencies since July 3rd.