Montreal public health officials confirmed yesterday a second heat-related death since Sunday, raising serious concerns as our city continues to face extreme temperatures. The victim, an elderly resident living in a building without adequate cooling, adds to the growing toll of this summer’s relentless heat waves.
“This is no longer just a discomfort issue, but a genuine public health emergency,” said Dr. Marie Beausoleil of Montreal Public Health during yesterday’s press conference. “These deaths were preventable with proper intervention and community support.”
The confirmation comes as temperatures have consistently reached above 30°C, with humidity making it feel closer to 40°C throughout the metropolitan area. These conditions have proven particularly dangerous for vulnerable populations – seniors, those with chronic medical conditions, and residents of Montreal’s “heat islands” where urban infrastructure amplifies temperature effects.
City officials have extended cooling center hours across all boroughs and increased outreach to isolated residents. The extended network includes libraries, community centers, and several shopping malls that have partnered with the city to provide air-conditioned refuge.
I visited one such cooling center in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve yesterday, where attendance has nearly tripled compared to previous summers. Volunteers were distributing water bottles and checking on elderly visitors, many of whom arrived visibly distressed from the heat.
“We’re seeing more people who simply cannot tolerate their apartments anymore,” explained Isabelle Tremblay, center coordinator. “Many live in older buildings without proper ventilation or air conditioning. When it stays hot overnight, there’s no relief.”
Montreal’s urban heat island effect exacerbates these conditions. Data from Environment Canada shows certain neighborhoods, particularly those with less tree coverage and more concrete surfaces, can experience temperatures up to 12 degrees higher than surrounding areas.
The Montreal Fire Department has increased its door-to-door wellness checks in high-risk neighborhoods. “We’re focusing on buildings known to house vulnerable residents,” Fire Chief Jean Leblanc told me. “Sometimes we’re finding people in dangerous conditions who haven’t had visitors in days.”
Health officials recommend checking on elderly neighbors, ensuring proper hydration, and recognizing early signs of heat-related illness. Symptoms like dizziness, confusion, headache, or rapid breathing require immediate medical attention.
As a journalist who has covered Montreal’s increasingly severe summer heat events for over a decade, I’ve noticed a troubling pattern. These extreme temperature episodes are becoming more frequent and lasting longer. Climate scientists at McGill University have warned this represents our new reality – one requiring systemic adaptation beyond emergency responses.
For immediate assistance during extreme heat, Montrealers can call the city’s heat emergency line at 514-872-3800 or visit the city’s website for cooling center locations. Those experiencing heat illness symptoms should contact 811 for medical guidance or 911 in emergencies.
As we face more extreme weather in the coming years, community resilience will depend on both institutional responses and neighborhood solidarity. The reality is that climate change has made our summers increasingly dangerous – something that would have seemed unimaginable in Montreal just twenty years ago.
