British Columbia marks five years since deadly 2021 heat dome

British Columbia commemorated the fifth anniversary of the June‑July 2021 heat dome that caused 619 deaths, most of them among people living alone, in poverty or with health challenges. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the tragedy continues to affect families, first responders and health‑care workers and warned that similar events will recur.

In response, the province established the BC Heat Alert and Response System (BC HARS) and published an Extreme Heat Preparedness Guide to help residents and communities plan for future heat waves. The village of Lytton recorded Canada’s all‑time high temperature of 46.6 °C during the event and was devastated by a wildfire the following day.