First day of summer brought near record high temperatures

By Kristen Oelschlagel

BELLEVILLE (21/06/12) Jay Alger (centre) and Mike Soucie (right), both construction workers working on Dundas Street, take a break from the heat to get some water. Photo by Kristen Oelschlagel.

Unbearably hot weather on the first day of summer meant taking frequent breaks and drinking lots of water for construction workers in Belleville.

Mike Soucie, foreman of the construction team working on Dundas Street, said he is doing the best he can to keep workers safe in the sweltering heat.

“I have to watch the guys and make sure they’re getting water into them and not getting too hot and fired up,” said Soucie.

Soucie and fellow worker, Jay Alger, both said that the hot weather slows down work, but they’re glad it’s here.

“It took a long time to come. Now it’s here and won’t stay so we might as well enjoy it and do the best we can,” said Soucie.

According to Environment Canada, on June 20 the temperature reached a near record high. At CFB Trenton the temperature reached 32 C, coming close to the record of 32.1 C set in 1988. But with the humidex it felt more like 41 C.

Kenzo Dozono took the day to walk his dog at Meyers Pier and said he enjoys the hot weather.

“Summer has to be hot. I like just walking around and enjoying the bay and the nice breeze,” said Dozono.

He said as long as you drink lots of water and stay in the shade you should be okay.

The hot weather is also being welcomed by summer businesses such as Duffer’s Chip Truck.

“Customers come out a lot more in the heat because nobody wants to cook, they’d rather just buy food,” said Jacklyn Howes, an employee at Duffer’s.

But not everybody is enjoying the hot weather. Rod Dafoe, an employee at Bioniche Life Sciences, said he only goes outside when he has to.

“The heat is terrible, I shouldn’t even be out walking today but I had to get out of the office for a break. I stay in an air conditioned office a lot more than I normally do,” Dafoe said.

In addition to staying in an air-conditioned place, Dafoe said he is also drinking a lot of water.

In a media release sent to QNet News, the Hastings and Prince Edward Counties health unit recommends that people stay out of the heat as much as possible, and drink plenty of water or even fruit juice. This is especially important for those who are more vulnerable such as the elderly, very young children and people with respiratory illnesses.

To help people keep cool, a number of cooling stations have been set up around the area. In Belleville the cooling station is at the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre in the Wally Denver Arena and in Trenton it’s at the Quinte West city council chambers.