Cochrane is no stranger to extreme weather and Helping Hands is starting the conversation on ways to protect vulnerable community members.

The non-profit is hosting an open dialogue about extreme weather centres in Cochrane tonight (Wednesday) at the Cochrane Public Library starting at 6 p.m.

“It's part of a discovery for us, this whole thing is to see what the community thinks,” says April Baird, Community Engagement Manager for Helping Hands. ”We’re looking for anybody who's maybe willing to use their business location, their church location, their community centre location, as a partner or simply anyone who has an interest in having this conversation.”

“We're really looking at this program through the lens of any time Environment Canada warns us to not go outside for any of these extreme weather reasons, there should maybe be some sort of centre that offers an in from that.”

She says the conversation will also focus on who could benefit from the extreme weather centres, including Cochrane’s aging and houseless community members.

There will also be a live stream on the Helping Hands Facebook page so community members can watch and participate virtually.

“Before we go ahead with any implantation or training, we want to make sure that Cochrane agrees that this is a gap in the community and that somebody needs to offer something.”

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