Metchosin Community House
Operated by the Metchosin Community Association

Another creative and effective way of utilizing the local assets of the Community House came into effect during the winter storms of 2006-2007 when the “Comfort Centre” became a reality. As the need arose for a facility to offer water, warmth, information (both gathering & disseminating), computer access, and phone (when service was available) the Metchosin Community House was an obvious resource. Therefore, the Metchosin Community House was simply connected to the adjacent Emergency Operation Center's generator and volunteers manned this reception centre for as long as was required.

As a small gathering space is already comfortably set up for meetings and receptions, the Metchosin Community House is well suited to offer this sort of service during an emergency situation. Because of the wide range of activities that go on at the MC House, materials and most facilities are already in place to switch into gear as a Comfort Centre.

The physical proximity of the Metchosin Community House to the Emergency Operations Centre, Fire Hall, Municipal Services, Search & Rescue base, and the village centre businesses makes this designation a natural solution for offering support with some of issues that arise at such times. Having this centre in place helps allow the other Emergency Services representatives to concentrate more efficiently on their specific responsibilities within the community.

The label “Comfort Centre” comes from our Provincial Emergency Program documents and hierarchy of terms. It can be defined as a small, easily maintained, centrally located “reception centre”, identified and prepared to open and operate before any of the larger designated neighbourhood “Reception Centres” are deemed necessary in a disaster (i.e. the schools, Community Hall).

Volunteers manning the Comfort Centre will be guided by the basic protocol drafted in the provincial emergency response outlines. Several of the Metchosin Community House volunteer representatives have attended Emergency Social Services courses. When the planned Metchosin Community House Expansion project is undertaken there are several improvements slated (with the help of the EOC) which will take emergency services into consideration including an enlarged washroom equipped with a shower stall, plus a gas fired hot water heater, and gas kitchen range. The Emergency Operation Centre has acquired 5 “emergency bedding kits” which can be quickly set up in the Metchosin Community House as required. Our Municipal Works Department is in the process of constructing roadside signs which will be available to indicate that he Metchosin Community House is operating as a Comfort Centre. These will be mounted in clear view during an emergency situation. Community residents are welcome to drop in to the Metchosin Community House any weekday 9 am to 12 noon to have a look at the facility as it operates on a regular basis throughout the year. It will be very apparent to anyone visiting that this is a logical and creative approach to emergency preparedness in our District.