On a warm summer morning, before the heat settled over the streets of Nelson, something quietly powerful was taking shape inside the Nelson Public Library. Librarians, health staff and community partners gathered around the same question: "How do we make essential health information accessible, practical, and visible to everyone?"
At the heart of the initiative was a partnership rooted in community care and connection between the Nelson Public Library and Kelly McCafferty, community health facilitator with Interior Health's healthy community development team.
How Nelson & IH partnership educated people on dangers of extreme heat
The collaboration was based in a shared understanding that extreme heat is becoming a common reality. As temperatures rise, communities play a vital role in helping residents, especially those most susceptible, understand heat-related risks and access the resources they need to stay safe.
Together, the partners developed a series of heat-safety posters that identified the groups most at risk during extreme heat, including older adults, infants and young children, people living with chronic illnesses, and individuals who may be socially isolated.
The library is often one of the first places people turn to for trusted information. Partnering with Interior Health helped us share important heat safety information in a way that is visible, accessible, and meaningful for our community.
Posters also highlighted the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, along with guidance on what to do in an emergency. This information was adapted from Interior Health’s heat resources.
An important message, the one that grounded the project firmly in the heart of the community, is a list of local cooling spaces available in Nelson.
For many, this was more than information, it was reassurance. As the posters began appearing throughout the library and beyond, they sparked conversations:
- A senior paused to read about hydration tips
- A parent pointed out cooling centres to their child
- A neighbour made a mental note to check in on someone living alone
The information was no longer confined to a meeting room – it was alive and moving through the community, strengthening networks of care and support.
This partnership demonstrates the power of collaboration in turning awareness into action. IH's healthy community development team brought public health expertise, while the library provided a trusted and accessible connection to the community, helping ensure critical information reached those who needed it most.
Join the growing list of communities displaying heat warning posters
Several communities across the Interior Health region have adapted the heat posters, which originated in the City of Kamloops with the support of local community health facilitator Kelly MacDonald. The City of Kamloops has shared the heat response posters on social media and under their Valuable Heat Resources website.
Reflecting on the initiative, the City of Kamloops' social and community development and emergency management teams expressed their appreciation for the partnership:
The City of Kamloops is extremely grateful for IH's support in creating these heat advice flyers for seniors, neighbours, and landlords. The quick creation and widespread distribution of these resources testifies to the power within our community collaborations ... our work would not be nearly as effective without IH's involvement and keen support.
The success of these resources demonstrates how strong community partnerships can amplify public health messaging and support residents in preparing for extreme heat events. If you would like to see these posters in your community or discuss cold response planning, please contact healthycommunities@interiorhealth.ca to connect with a Community Health Facilitator in your region.
IH's role in healthy community development
Healthy community development helps people stay healthy and well by preventing injury and chronic disease before they lead to more serious health concerns. Factors such as housing, income, social connections, and the environment all influence health. IH's healthy community development team supports this work by:
- Bringing partners together
- Strengthening planning and decision-making through a health equity lens
- Enabling coordinated action on complex issues such as housing, poverty, and climate resilience
We work across sectors to connect people, share knowledge, and support sustainable, long-term improvements in community health and well-being.
Initiatives like community heat planning brings local partners together to prepare for extreme weather, help people stay safe during extreme heat, reduce heat-related health risks, and strengthen community resilience for a changing climate.
IH's healthy community development team supports heat and cold response planning by providing timely, practical information before extreme weather events and facilitating collaboration among partners. This helps residents take steps to stay safe while reducing pressure on health care services.
Learn more about building healthy communities | Interior Health
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