Until then, the air-conditioned room on the second floor is open daily from 9am to 7pm. This morning, it didn't seem to be particularly busy, despite the heatwave. The same was true of the refreshment areas in Dalhousie this afternoon.

The heat wave is in full swing in New Brunswick, and Restigouche is no exception. According to the City of Campbellton, the installation of a cooling area became essential to prevent the risks of heat stroke and dehydration.

"It's important for all the elderly or people who don't have air conditioning to have a place to come and cool off. [...] I think all municipalities are going to start talking about it more and more, because what we're seeing right now is becoming more and more frequent," maintains the deputy mayor of the Campbellton Regional Community, Luc Couturier.

It's the first time that a space of this type has been designed by the city. Bottles of fresh water are available free of charge. Even though most of the citizens we met were unaware of the existence of this cool space, they welcomed the City's idea.

"It's very good for the elderly and for everyone, there aren't many people who have the money to buy bottles of water, it's a really good idea".

"It's very good, especially for the elderly. There are a lot of them who don't have... who can't [buy an air conditioner]. It's a good idea. Journalist: Are you thinking of going? No, I'm going to Beresford. I've got one [air conditioner] in my trailer, but for the elderly, it's really hot... it would really take that".

" Journalist: What do you think of this Town initiative? It's a good idea. It was known, it was done in big cities before. We'd heard about it in Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto... now we've got it.

" Journalist: Are you thinking of going to this space? No, I have a heat pump at home, so I'm going to take advantage of my heat pump, but I think it's great [the City of Campbellton's initiative]."

A few kilometers from Campbellton, there are also cooling areas in Dalhousie, in the Royal Legion and Lions Club buildings.

Even though the heat is intense, these cooling sites seem to be little used by citizens. However, New Brunswick Public Health maintains that they are essential to protect the most vulnerable.

"We also have quite high rates of poverty in the region here, so as far as air conditioning is concerned... all that, deI think it's a collective effort to take care of our citizens," explains Manon Laviolette, Health Promoter for New Brunswick Public Health.

Other climate comfort rooms have been installed elsewhere in northern New Brunswick. They include one at Caraquet Town Hall, one at the Centre des Congrès de la Péninsule acadienne in Shippagan, and another at the Marché Centre-Ville in Tracadie.

Source: cimtchau.ca/