Medicine Hat residents trying everything to stay cool

“We try and stay in the shade and do our outdoor activities as early as possible. Then once it does start to get a little bit higher around noon or one o’clock, we go inside and we do cooler activities in the air conditioning,” said Kilkenny. “We sit in the theatre, play board games, play crib, although crib get a little heated!”

The lemonade stand wasn’t the coldest place in town though.

Icy mountain water has worked around the clock to making sure they have enough ice.

Neil Bonogofsky, co-owner of Icy Mountain Water, says when it’s this hot the demand for product is high.

“The heatwave has been incredible for us, new customers everyday,” said Bonogofsky. “Ice we’re ramping up, and we’re selling about 55 tonnes. So sales have been really good.”

Bonogofsky isn’t complaining about working inside today.

“Whenever you’re working with ice or inside a freezer, it’s good on a day like today,” said Bonogofsky.

Icy mountain isn’t the only place you can enjoy ice as hockey camps were taking place all day at Cenovus Arena.

Troy Hellman’s daughter was participating in the camp, and he was happy his daughter was on the ice.

“Doing something inside, playing hockey is the awesomest thing in the world,” said Hellman. “So it’s a good thing for my girl.”

The rink isn’t the only place that will be busy today. Athletic Park will be full of fans for the final and deciding matchup between the Medicine Hat Mavericks and Edmonton Prospects.

Kimmie Phillips, operations manager with the Medicine Hat Mavericks, wants everyone attending tonight’s game to be prepared.

“It’s best to get down here, bring your umbrellas, bring your hats, you can bring water into the park as well,” said Phillips. “It’s going to be too hot today, to not. We also have cold beer, all that good stuff.”

The heat can also pose a problem for mavericks staff who are working but Phillips says they have it covered.

“She has made us some of these little neck coolers that you just put in water all day, and then we can put it with our barbeque people, and our concession staff. Just because it gets so hot in there for them,” said Phillips. “We try to avoid some of that heat stroke. Got lots of water around the park ready for them at least.”

The hot weather is expected to continue through the weekend before we get a break from the heat on Monday.

by Matt Pouncy

Medicine Hat residents trying everything to stay cool

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