Many Steinbach residents may be looking for a place to escape the heat.
A few community spaces across the city are opening their doors to help people stay cool, comfortable, and safe.
At the Pat Porter Active Living Centre, Executive Director Audrey Harder says everyone is welcome.
“If you really need to cool down, you don't have air conditioning, it’s going to be in the 30’s still coming up and that's hot and we want to make sure people are safe and healthy and well. You can come by here, you can have a seat, it's cool. You can drink some water.”
She notes there is more to do than just sit and cool off.
“Read a book, there's a library. You can do a puzzle, something to keep you occupied. You don't have to just sit here, drink water, and leave. You can stay and join whatever we're doing.”
The centre is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., though hours may sometimes be extended.
“Anywhere between there, you're guaranteed in here,” she says. “If you call during the day and check, we may have some days where it's open later, then we can give you a heads up on that.”
For those around over the lunch hour, the Meals on Wheels program is also available.
“If you go on the website, you can check out our menu. You can look at that and see what's there and if you want to order food and come here for the day, call ahead in the morning by about 9:30, order your meal, come on down. It's $8 still and join us for lunch in a nice cool, comfortable environment.”
She adds that there is a pergola outside too for those who want to enjoy the outdoors and then cool off inside.
At the Jake Epp Library, Director Aubrey Walker says they also welcome anyone needing to cool off.
“The library is the perfect place for that. We're a great community space that you can come and just be for free. There's no expectations as long as people are abiding by our patron code of conduct, which is basically be respectful of people in the place and they are more than welcome here.”
She adds that no library membership is required.
“You don't have to come and pretend to read a book so that you're allowed here. You can just come and be here. We have free Wi-Fi that's available to anyone, computer use if they want. We have washrooms that they can use, and we have a water bottle filler. And if they don't have their own water bottle, they can ask us for a cup, and we can help with that too.”
Walker says she’s happy the library can be part of helping people stay safe.
“I hope that people can utilize this space. I hope they find lots of good spaces to use, and I'm glad we're one of them.”
Over at the Southeast Event Centre, Michelle Sawatzky-Koop, Director of Communication, Marketing, and Sales, encourages people to stop in.
“I think it's a perfect place to come in and cool off. We want to welcome people into the doors. We've always said this place was built by the community and it's for the community and we really stand by that. We love visiting with the kids that are skateboarding by, and we love to welcome people in.”
The doors are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with seating areas inside and outside. Visitors can also check out the Forum & Bistro and Grab & Go.
“The Grab & Go right now is open from 11 till 6. Those hours are also going to evolve, but that's when it's open right now. And then our Forum & Bistro is open for lunch from 11 till 2 and then for supper from 4 till 9, so some places you can sit down actually and relax.”
She is looking forward to meeting more of the community in their new space.
“I love the idea of if it's too hot for you outside, then come and say hello to us inside and they can even peruse the almost finished Steinbach Sports Heritage Gallery. There are some cool things to look at as well while you're here.”
Sawatzky-Koop mentions that a kid’s zone is also in the works.
“We couldn't be more excited to get that thing open for our community. We are anticipating late summer for that completion, but we'll keep you posted.”
Whether it’s for water, lunch, Wi-Fi, or just a place to sit and relax, Steinbach has plenty of welcoming spaces to help you stay cool this summer.
With files from Adi Loewen