To cool or not to cool: Understanding and improving cooling centre use in Metro Vancouver through community-based participatory action research

This paper explores the barriers and opportunities related to access and use of cooling centres from both user and provider perspectives, as well as broader implications for addressing vulnerability to extreme heat in the Metro Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada. Initially focused on cooling centres, the research expanded to include the complexities of individual and systemic responses to heat, highlighting the complex interplay between personal preferences and structural barriers.

The study revealed three key findings:

• Key barriers to cooling centre usage reported by participants included concerns over safety, hygiene, stigma, lack of information, and infrastructural challenges such as transportation. SPs faced constraints with staffing, limited hours, and underutilization of additional services.
• Tensions emerged between individual, do-it-yourself (DIY) approaches and collective solutions, with participants seeking agency in their choices while acknowledging the need for improved, community-based interventions.
• The study also uncovered the unintended effects of inclusivity, as the presence of individuals who use substances or are unhoused in cooling spaces deterred some potential users, underscoring the challenges of designing universally accessible services. Broader systemic issues, such as housing security and the quality of indoor environments, further intersected with vulnerability to extreme heat, exacerbating risks for those opting to stay at home.