How to stay warm in the Fraser Valley

In June, the province experienced a record-breaking heat dome that killed more than 500 people across BC and 80 in the Fraser Valley alone. Now, six months later, we are facing another potentially record-breaking weather system.

The Weather Network—whose forecasts were proven to be the most reliable during the heat dome—is anticipating a long stretch of Arctic air to wash over BC over the Christmas weekend, in addition to rain and potentially snow. In Abbotsford, the temperatures are expected to get as low as -11 C during the day and -15 C at night by next week, Vancouver on Christmas could be within half a degree of its coldest recorded temperature on that day.

As we saw in the heat dome, vulnerable people such as seniors and those who do not have homes are at the most risk during extreme weather. This risk increases as the length of the weather system increases. With cold weather expected to last through the end of December, anyone without adequate heat or shelter should consider visiting a warming centre, shelter, or other community support.

We know that the people who may be in most need of this information might not have access to this article. If you are able, consider sharing one of these print-friendly resource lists so everyone can stay safe and warm this month.

Langley / Abbotsford / Mission / Chilliwack / Agassiz-Harrison / Hope

Additional shelter lists are available through BC Housing and BC 211.

Langley

Shelters:

• • Gateway of Hope Emergency Shelter (5787 Langley Bypass): Available for people 19 and older. Operated by the Salvation Army. Open 24 hours, with a 10pm curfew. Intake at 10:15pm. Pet friendly. Wheelchair accessible.

  • Lookout Society (5714 Glover Rd): Although there is no shelter in Langley, Lookout Society is giving people bus tickets to access the society’s Cloverdale shelter. Go to their location on Glover Road and ask for a harm reduction outreach worker.

  • Douglas Park Community School (5409 206 St): Lookout Society opened an emergency weather shelter at the Langley school. Open 24/7. Meals provided. Pet friendly. Contact number is 604-230-6457.

Get warm inside:

• Aldergrove Library (26770 29 Ave): Open Monday-Thursday 9am to 8pm, Friday-Saturday 10am to 5pm, and Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Closes at 2pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Closed on Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day.

• Brookswood Library (20045 40 Ave): Open Tuesday-Wednesday, 9am to 6pm, Thursday-Saturday 10 am to 5pm. Closed Sunday-Monday. Open 10am to 2pm Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Closed Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day.

• City of Langley Library (20399 Douglas Cres): Open Monday-Thursday 9am to 8pm, Friday-Saturday 10am to 5pm, and Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Closes at 2pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Closed on Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Years Day.

• Dean Drysdale Library (8889 Walnut Grove Dr): Open Monday-Thursday 9am to 8pm, Friday-Saturday 10am to 5pm, and Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Closes at 2pm Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Closed Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day.

• Fort Langley Library (9167 Glover Rd): Open Tuesday-Wednesday 11am to 6pm, Thursday-Saturday 10am to 5pm. Closed Sunday-Monday. Open 10am to 2pm Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Closed Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day.

• Muriel Arnason Library (#130 20338 65 Ave): Open Monday-Thursday 9am to 8pm, Friday-Saturday 10am to 5pm, and Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Closes at 2pm Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Closed Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day.

• Murrayville Library (#100 22071 48 Ave): Open Monday-Thursday 9am to 8pm, Friday-Saturday 10am to 5pm, and Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Closes at 2pm Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Closed Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day.

Other community resources:

• Brogan’s Diner (20555 56 Ave): Brogan’s Diner offers “Soup for the Soul” so those who are homeless or struggling can get a warm bowl of soup, a sandwich, and a coffee. The diner also has donated hats, gloves, and coats available. Open Monday-Thursday 8am to 8pm and Friday-Sunday 8am to 9pm.

• Gurdwara Dukh Bhanjan Sahib (5998 264 St): Offers langar, a free vegetarian meal. Open 3:30am to 10:30pm.

• NightShift Ministries (5708 Glover Rd): NightShift Ministries offers free meals at 7pm Monday through Thursday.

Abbotsford

Shelters:

• Gateway Emergency Weather Response Shelter (2884 Gladys Ave): Available for people 19 and older. Open 8pm to 8am. No intake after 10:30pm.

• Sara for Women Society (33264 Old Yale Rd and 2317 McKenzie Rd): Available for women only. Open at 7pm. Open intake through the warm zone only.

• Cyrus Centre Seasonal Shelter (2616 Ware St): Available for youth 19 to 24. Call 604-859-5773 for availability.

• The 5 and 2 Ministries (1661 McCallum Rd): Available for people 50 and older.

• Centre of Hope (34081 Gladys Ave): Available for people 19 and older. Opens at 3:30pm and closes at 8am. Check for space 9:30am to 3:30pm Monday to Friday. Pet friendly. Wheelchair accessible.

• Riverside Shelter (1640 Riverside Rd): Available for people 19 and older. Open 24 hours, but intake is between 8am and 9pm. Call ahead to confirm bed availability (604-776-2424). Pet friendly. Wheelchair accessible.

• Cyrus Centre (2616 Ware St): Available for youth 13 to 18. Open 24 hours.

Get warm inside:

• Abbotsford Community Library (33355 Bevan Ave): Open Monday-Thursday 9am to 8pm, Friday-Saturday 10am to 5pm, and Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Closes at 2pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Closed on Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Years Day.

• Clearbrook Library (32320 George Ferguson Way): Open Monday-Thursday 9am to 8pm, Friday-Saturday 10am to 5pm, and Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Closes at 2pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Closed on Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Years Day.

• Mount Lehman Library (5875 Mount Lehman Rd): Open Tuesday-Friday 1pm to 5pm, Closed Saturday-Monday. Open 10am to 2pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Closed Dec. 28.

Other community resources:

• Gurdwara Kalgidhar Darbar Sahib (30640 Blueridge Dr): Offers langar, a free vegetarian meal. Open 3:30am to 9pm.

• Gurdwara Baba Banda Singh Bahadar Sikh Society (31631 South Fraser Way): Offers langar, a free vegetarian meal. Open 4:30am to 8:30pm.

• Gurdwara Sachkhand Isher Darbar (32839 Downes Rd): Offers langar, a free vegetarian meal. Open 24 hours.

Mission

Shelters:

• Haven in the Hollow (32646 Logan Ave): Available to people 19 and older. Open 24 hours.

• Mission Community Services Youth Shelter (32550 Logan Ave): Available for youth aged 16 to 24. Open 24 hours. Wheelchair accessible.

• MY House (7368 Proctor St): Available for youth. Open 11am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Get warm inside:

• Mission Library (33247 Second Ave): Open Monday-Thursday 9am to 8pm, Friday-Saturday 10am to 5pm, and Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Closed at 2pm on Christmas Eve and New Years’ Eve. Closed Christmas to Dec. 28 and New Years’ Day to Jan. 3.

Other community resources:

• Mission Gurdwara Gursikh Society (32086 Lougheed Hwy): Offers langar, a free vegetarian meal. Open 24 hours.

Chilliwack

Shelters:

• Cyrus Centre Seasonal Shelter (45845 Wellington Ave): Available for youth 19 to 24. Call 604-795-5773 for availability. Wheelchair accessible.

• PathWays Shelter (46293 Yale Rd): Available for people 19 and older. Open 9:30pm to 7:30am. No intake after 11pm.

• House of Hope – Salvation Army (45746 Yale Rd): Available to men 19 and older who have been in Chilliwack at least two weeks. Some single rooms to accomodate a co-ed couple. Open 24 hours. Pet friendly. Wheelchair accessible.

• Cyrus Centre (45845 Wellington Ave): Available for youth 13 to 18. Open 24 hours. Wheelchair accessible.

• Brigadier Arthur Cartmell House (45756 Yale Rd): Available for women 19 and older. Open 24 hours. Pet friendly.

• Cheam Emergency Shelter (52161 W Victor Dr): Cheam Emergency Shelter now located inside the band office. Call Cheam Peacekeepers if you need assistance: 604-378-1611.

Get warm inside:

• Chilliwack Library (45360 First Ave): Open Monday-Thursday 9am to 8pm, Friday-Saturday 10am to 5pm, and Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Closes at 2pm Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Closed Christmas to Dec. 28, and New Year’s Day to Jan. 3.

• Sardis Library (5819 Tyson Rd): Open Monday-Thursday 9am to 8pm, Friday-Saturday 10am to 5pm, and Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Closes at 2pm Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Closed Christmas to Dec. 28, and New Year’s Day to Jan. 3.

• Evergreen Hall (9291 Corbould Street): Open 9am to 9pm until further notice.

Other community resources:

• Chilliwack Free Fridge (8870 Edward St): Free food and some pantry items available.

• Ruth and Naomi’s Mission (46129 Princess Ave): Community dinner open 6pm to 7pm each night. Clothing, bedding, linens, and footwear also available.

• Salvation Army Soup Kitchen (45746 Yale Rd): One free meal available daily during the lunch hour. Available people 19 and older.

Agassiz-Harrison

Shelters:

There are no shelters in Agassiz and Harrison. The nearest are located in Chilliwack (46293 Yale Rd), Mission (32646 Logan Ave), and Hope (650 Old Hope Princeton Hwy).

Get warm inside:

• Agassiz Library (7140 Cheam Ave): Open Tuesday-Wednesday 9am to 6pm, Thursday 11am to 8pm, Friday-Saturday 10am to 5pm. Closed Sunday-Monday. Closes at 2pm Christmas Eve and New Years’ Eve. Closed Christmas, Dec. 28, and New Year’s Day.

Other community resources:

• Olive Branch (7571 Morrow Rd): Free meals served every Tuesday at 5pm. Due to COVID-19, all meals are take out only.

• Agassiz Harrison Community Services (7086 Cheam Ave): Offers a variety of programs for families and individuals. Open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday.

Hope

Shelters:

• Hope and Area Emergency Shelter (670 Old Hope Princeton Highway): Available to people 19 and older. Open 24 hours. Pet friendly. Wheelchair accessible.

Get warm inside:

• Hope Library (1005a 6 Ave): Open Tuesday and Thursday 9am to 5pm, Wednesday 1pm to 8pm, Friday 10am to 5pm, and Saturday-Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Closed Mondays. Closes at 2pm Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Closed Christmas and Boxing Day, Dec. 28, and New Year’s Day to Jan. 3.

• Grace Baptist Church (949 3 Ave): The Grace Baptist Church has opened its big hall as a warming centre for people during the cold snap. Open 9am to 4pm except New Year’s Day.

Other community resources:

• Hope Community Services (434 Wallace St): Offers a variety of programs and supports for families, individuals, and seniors.

Do you have something you think we should add to this list? Let us know.