View Royal residents looking to keep their homes cooler during heat waves and lower their energy bills can get free expert advice at a retrofit fair on Saturday, June 6, 2026. The View Royal Climate Coalition is hosting the Beat the Heat Retrofit Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the View Royal Community Hall, 279 Island Highway. The event falls on the final day of National AccessAbility Week, which runs from May 31 to June 6, highlighting how home upgrades can also make living spaces safer and more comfortable for people with disabilities and seniors.
At the fair, homeowners can chat with experts from the Vancouver Island Strata Owners Association, the Strata Energy Advisor, and the Home Energy Navigator program. These groups will explain available rebates and support for strata corporations, condo and townhouse owners, and detached home residents. The Home Energy Navigator provides free virtual consultations, quote reviews, and customized retrofit roadmaps through local energy experts.
Attendees can also learn about provincial rebates that can significantly cut the cost of upgrades. Homeowners can receive up to $4,000 for installing a heat pump, up to $5,500 for insulation improvements, and for lower-income households switching from fossil fuel heating to a heat pump, rebates can reach as much as $19,000. The fair offers free admission and parking, and visitors can enter to win a grand prize.
The climate coalition is a group of residents who push for practical climate solutions and support local leaders in building a more resilient community. View Royal declared a climate emergency in 2019 and has been a leader in climate action across British Columbia ever since. In 2023, the town created a Community Heat Resilience plan to address rising extreme heat risks, as regional projections show more days above 25 degrees Celsius are expected in the future.
Organizers say the fair is a chance for residents to take practical steps toward a healthier, safer, and more climate-resilient home. For more information, visit the View Royal Climate Coalition website.
