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In the summer of 2018, Ontario and Quebec were hit with one of the worst heat waves both provinces had ever experienced. Temperatures went as high as 35 degrees Celsius — without accounting for the humidity — and almost 100 people died in Quebec, 66 in Montreal alone.

At one point, the Montreal morgue was filled to capacity and a deal was made with a local funeral home to house more bodies.

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To all involved, it was a traumatic experience and scientists have said the number of heat-related deaths will only get worse.

Heat waves are caused by the presence of a high-pressure atmospheric system, which traps warm air in place and causes the temperature to rise to abnormal levels.

In instances of extreme heat, people who are medically vulnerable, including the elderly and people with mental illnesses, are increasingly in danger if left alone, especially in areas with no air conditioning. The Montreal Gazette reported that 66 per cent of those that died during the heat wave last year were at least 65 years old.