With most of New Brunswick under a heat warning, the best place to cool down in the province may have been the Pointe-du-Chêne Wharf. That’s what Chris Holden had in mind when he made the plunge around noon when it was already 30 C. “It’s a great way to beat the heat. Once you jump, there’s no turning back. You cool off right away,” said Holder. But for those working on the wharf, or on the water, it’s not so easy. Paul Moores, owner of Shediac Bay Cruises, said there usually is a bit of a cool breeze on the water, even on a stifling hot day, and he makes sure his staff are taken care of. “We have sunscreen on board for them and definitely stay hydrated. Lots of water, some Gatorade on board,” said Moores. At the Greater Shediac Sailing School, it’s all about keeping the young sailors protected. “We make sure we ask them to take a lot of water breaks, make sure they finish their water bottles throughout the day,” said instructor Molly Ford. “Whenever they feel too hot, we let them jump into the water. At lunchtime we try to stay in the shade when we can.” CTV Meterologist Kalin Mitchell said temperatures in the Maritimes will soar into the high 20s and low 30s this week and a few communities in New Brunswick may approach 35 C. Humidex values will reach the high 30s or even near 40, he said. The Tokyo Ramen restaurant in Fredericton closed for the day due to the extreme heat in the kitchen. A message on social media read, “the safety of our team comes first.” Swimmers in Riverview waited in line for the Lion Ken Gabbey Community Outdoor Pool to open early Wednesday afternoon. Lifeguards Jaelyn Allen and Alex MacNeil said pool staff take plenty of precautions before their shifts start. “It’s pretty hot. You get really warm when you’re guarding up there in the sun. We have umbrellas, but it gets pretty hot,” said Alley. “We only go for 30 minutes on and then we have some time to rest in the shade so it’s not too bad,” said MacNeil. Mitchell said standing high temperature records in the region could be matched or broken. But that didn’t discourage Jesse Knight who brought her daughters and their friends to the pool. “We love the heat. The summer season is pretty short, so we’re happy to have it,” said Knight. “We go to the pool, we go to the beach, we have a pool in our backyard that sometimes we stay at as well. Or, if it’s really hot we’ll sort of plan our day, the hottest part of the day, being inside.” Knight said she makes sure the kids are hydrated and they try to stay in the shade as much as possible. Mitchell said the forecast calls for extreme heat during the day and warm nights through Friday, but the temperatures should come down this weekend and there is a risk of thunderstorms. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
