For Chatham and area residents looking for a way to get out of the heat and lousy air quality due to the wildfires in northern Ontario, the municipality has opened the Thames Campus Arena as a haven.
The arena’s upstairs lobby will be open until 11 p.m. tonight to serve as a safe indoor space away from the smoke.
Chatham Hope Haven will also remain open through to 10 a.m. Saturday morning.
As well, the Chatham Hope Centre on Croydon Street is open 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday.
“The health and safety of our residents is always a top priority,” said Mayor Darrin Canniff in a media release. “We know these smoky conditions can be especially difficult for the unhoused, seniors, young children, and others who are vulnerable. By opening Thames Campus Arena as a temporary relief shelter, we’re providing a safe indoor space where residents can get out of the smoke and protect their health until air quality improves.”
