This webinar is presented by the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health
# Overview
While cold weather is often viewed primarily as an environmental exposure, public health increasingly recognizes its disproportionate impacts on people experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness. A 2023 report from BC Coroners Service documented a significant increase in deaths among people experiencing homelessness in recent years. Limited access to shelter and protection from the cold, in combination to other underlying risk factors, may contribute to increased mortality and illness in this population.
This presentation will provide an overview of the current evidence on the public health impacts of cold weather exposure and share findings from a recent study at the BCCDC. Drawing on experiences from BC’s Interior Health communities and provincial guidance, it will also explore the role of public health in monitoring health impacts, informing policy, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and advancing housing as a key determinant of health.
# Presenters
Dr. Silvina Mema | Deputy Chief Medical Health Officer, Interior Health
Jiayun Angela Yao, PhD | Senior Scientist, Environmental Health Services, BCCDC