It is sad to know that the extreme cold weather claimed the life of a homeless person in Vancouver on Thursday night.
"Tracey" was a homeless person believed to have paranoid schizophrenia. She lived in a make-shift tent made of cardboards and her shopping cart on a major street for safety . When the temperature was -5C / 23F with strong wind blowing, She was asked to go to a shelter by several police officers and a outreach worker for a total of 4 times, but she refused, probably fearing her belongings in the shopping cart would be stolen as nearby shelters would not allow shopping carts. She asked a police officer for a candle to keep her warm but was refused due to safety concerns. She eventually managed to light a candle to keep herself warm but unforturnately she felt asleep, the candle fell and she was burnt to death.
Tonight, another snow storm is coming with 90 km/h or 55 miles/h wind. The wind chill factor will be -40C / -40F in some areas. Hopefully it does not claim more lives.