What: In Canada, extreme weather forced department stores to close.

Why it is important: Climate change is a reality with economic consequences, not just a customer fad.

Hudson's Bay has temporarily closed several store locations across Canada due to strains on their HVAC systems amid a severe heat wave. The closures include stores in Vancouver, West Vancouver, downtown Victoria, Prince George, two in Winnipeg, and one in Windsor, Ontario. The heat has led to temperatures surpassing 40°C in parts of British Columbia, exacerbating the stress on cooling systems in these locations. Hudson's Bay emphasized that the well-being of customers and associates is a priority and the company is aiming to reopen the affected stores as soon as possible. The reopening will be assessed on a store-by-store basis, reflecting the fluid nature of the situation. This development comes at a time when the parent company of Hudson's Bay has completed a significant acquisition of U.S.-based Neiman Marcus, which retail strategist David Ian Gray suggests could have broader implications for the future of Canadian retail.

Hudson's Bay closes several stores across Canada during heat wave