The Town of Sidney, British Columbia, opened a temporary overnight warming centre on February 19, 2026, to help residents stay safe during a period of extreme cold. This emergency space provides a warm and supervised area for people who do not have a safe place to go as temperatures drop below freezing.
The facility is located in the Nell Horth Room at 10091 Resthaven Drive, which is right next to the local library. It was open from 8:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. to provide shelter throughout the coldest hours of the night.
The centre is managed by Beacon Community Services, a local non-profit group that has worked in the region for many years. Staff at the site offer visitors a place to sit, use the washroom, and have something to eat or drink.
While the room offers secure storage for personal items, it does not currently have sleeping mats like a full-time shelter. This location is being used as a temporary solution while the town looks for a more permanent site for future winters.
The Province of British Columbia pays for the costs to run the centre whenever the weather is expected to be at or below freezing. It can also be opened during other difficult conditions like heavy snow or freezing rain.
