The 2021 heat dome was the deadliest weather event in Canadian history, with an estimated 740 excess deaths in British Columbia (BC). These deaths were not uniformly distributed across the population; they were concentrated in areas with higher deprivation and lower green space. They also occurred disproportionately among people with conditions such as schizophrenia and substance use disorder. This presentation will review the epidemiologic evidence generated by the BC Centre for Disease Control and the evolving public health response to extreme heat in the province.
Sarah Henderson
Scientific Director, Environmental Health Services, BC Centre for Disease Control