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OTTAWA -- Ottawa is one of the worst cities in Canada for bed bugs.

Orkin Canada ranks Ottawa 5th on its list of top ten bed bug cities in Canada.

The rankings are based on the number of commercial and residential bed bug treatments carried out by Orkin Canada between January 1 and December 31, 2019.

Toronto tops the list of bed bug cities, followed by Winnipeg, Vancouver and St. Johns.

In a statement, Orkin Canada says this past year saw significant bed bug sightings across the country, from infestations in federal buildings to private homes.

In October, the Federal Government partially closed an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada building on Rue Cremazie in Gatineau due to bed bugs in the building. Bed bugs were also discovered on three floors of a government building on King Edward Avenue.

Bed bugs can be identified by noticing tiny dark coloured stains, cast skins or live bugs. Orkin says the most effective places to look for bed bugs in are mattress tags and seams, under seat cushions, behind headboards, creases of drawers and carpets.

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Ottawa the 5th worst city for bed bugs: Orkin Canada - CTV News

HAMILTON, ON, Dec. 9, 2019 /CNW/ -Petty Pest Control Services, home and commercial pest control professionals has announced the addition of a new heat treatment technology to their wide range of bed bug control solutions. This is in response to the numerous requests from their customers to make bed bug heat treatment services available in the community.

Jim Petty, the owner of PPC Services, says it took a while to have the service accessible on the market. "A lot of different ways to deliver heat to a bed bug infested home have been used in the past, and unfortunately some have destroyed more than just the bed bugs."

"I wanted a safe, reliable method that delivers heat quickly and safely to the home," says Jim. The PPC Heat Assault Insect Eradication System is the most effective treatment for bed bugs on the market today.

Bed bugs can be hard to kill. They hide inside cracks and crevices, in keyholes and light switches, in between mattresses and baseboards, in picture frames and under carpets and rugs. They can be anywhere, and these places are difficult to reach with household insecticides and even powerful chemical pesticides. Chemical fumes may breakdown before it can reach the nesting places where bed bugs hide.

Bed bug heat treatment is far more effective than chemical treatments. The PPC Heat Assault bed bug heat treatment is a specially designed equipment used to raise the temperature in a home or building to kill the bed bugs. It can reach very high temperatures of up to 145F or more and kill all bed bugs, larvae and eggs in just a matter of hours.

"It's like turning your home into a hot box," Jim explains. "We need to maintain a high temperature for several hours, to ensure that the heat penetrates into hard to reach places like tiny cracks and crevices, mattresses, box springs, furniture, carpeting and baseboards."

The heat system is ideal for homes, businesses and high-rises up to 30 floors.

PPC's heat treatment solution uses propylene glycol. "It's basically a water solution, so it's chemical-free, non-toxic and environmentally safe.

PPC Servicesoffers a non-toxic, chemical-free technology that is the most effective and safest heating treatment for bed bugs on the market today. The service is available in Kitchener, Guelph, Waterloo, Toronto, Hamilton, Mississauga, Burlington, St. Catharines areas andnearby communities.

SOURCE Petty Pest Control Services

For further information: Jim Petty, (289) 439 -4343

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Hamilton-based Pest Control Service Introduces Innovative Heat Treatment for Bedbugs - Canada NewsWire

OTTAWA Hundreds of government workers have been forced to work from home after bed bugs were discovered on all the floors in their building. The employees work for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on the Quebec side. Almost the entire building has been shut down, all except several employees working on the sixth floor. Theyre working with sensitive information and say they cant take their work home with them. But theyre certainly worried now about taking bed bugs home with them.

While the rest of the building remains virtually empty, several employees have to remain at work, trying to find a way to avoid being at their desks. Hamze Mansour has chosen a spot on a picnic table beside the building,

Were outside, trying to stay away from the bed bugs, he says, at least as much as we can.

Because of the nature of their work, they say they cant work from home but dont want to be here.

Ive been standing up, walking around, says IRCC employee Marisa Alberelli, avoiding as much as possible.

What we know is that bed bugs were discovered on one floor of this building last week. A canine unit was brought in over the weekend and the company found bed bugs on every single floor of the building at 70 Crmazie. Thats when the government decided that most of the building would be shut down and employees were advised to telework or find alternate arrangements. Its not clear how long those arrangements were to last. A note from management said:

"For the latest information on the situation, employees are encouraged to their manager before reporting to work tomorrow."

Employees have also been advised to bag their clothing and check for bed bugs before entering their homes.

We all have concerns about taking them home, says Mansour, about what we would do if we did have them and trying to find a way to cope with it in the meantime.

Jeff Bow is with Abell Pest Control. He says its becoming more common to find bed bugs in public buildings like libraries, hospitals, on public transit and in federal government buildings. They travel on pant legs and inside purses and backpacks.

Generally, theyre about the size of an apple seed, he says, trying to counter the myth that bed bugs arent visible to the naked eye. He advises employees to inspect their workstations and their homes. Catching bed bugs early is key to controlling them.

Its extremely important to identify problem quickly, Bow says, A couple bedbugs can turn into a couple thousand within a few months.

This is not the only building with bed bug issues. Last week, at 350 King Edward Avenue in Ottawa.

I trust they treated it and its okay, says employee Raouf Kadimi, They sent us a couple emails. I have no concerns actually.

CTV Ottawa has been ed by federal employees at other buildings, too, about ongoing problems with mice; daily sightings" one person wrote. "The working conditions are horrid and unacceptable, this employee added.

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Bed bug infestation forces partial closure of Gatineau government building - Daily Stock Dish

The Ontario-based corporate owners of a Chilliwack seniors home are in damage control and are in town investigating after an expos uncovered a 94-year-old blind woman was left in a bed-bug infested room for days on end.

Rita Bedford was the focus of a CBC Go Public story from Nov. 3 that stemmed from distraught employees of The Cascades filming the bed bugs on the elderly womans mattress.

The bed bug incident dates back to December 2018, but the story spurred other employees, residents and relatives of residents to express concern about care at the home, and the companys response.

Representatives for Sienna Living came to The Cascades on Nov. 5 to hold a meeting with residents and family members.

Esther Esaus mother lives at The Cascades and she addressed the company owners with strong words about the billion-dollar company that runs dozens of senior living homes across Canada.

RELATED: B.C. introduces more efficient waitlists, choices for seniors care homes

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Given that many of the residents suffer from serious health conditions, and many have dementia, Esau expressed concern that complaints about care at the home had to be leaked to the media by anonymous employees.

The employees that work here are the eyes and ears and voices for the vulnerable tenants who may be blind, deaf or have dementia and so it is of most importance that employees have the right and freedom to make it their duty to report any complaint and not have the threat of losing their jobs if they do so, Esau said at the meeting.

In response to questions about changes, Sienna Living director of communications Natalie Gokchenian issued a statement to The Progress.

In response to the CBC Go Public piece, I can confirm that representatives from our team were at The Cascades [Nov. 5] to commence an investigation into the allegations that were new to us regarding transparency, accountability and openness within the team, Gokchenian said via email. We are deeply disturbed by these allegations and wanted to immediately investigate to ensure our core values were being reflected in our day-to-day operations.

A resident of The Cascades who spoke to The Progress, but did not want his name used, said he sometimes eats with the 94-year-old Bedford and has to help her because they are currently using plastic cutlery and paper plates.

Esau, too, pointed to the dining situation because of an apparent sewage pipe leak that has affected all dining at the facility for weeks.

The plastic cutlery and paper plates are being used temporarily because the kitchen is being repaired, Gokchenian explained. During this temporary interruption in the meal service, plastic and paper cutlery is being used for sanitary purposes and we anticipate full service to resume sometime late next week.

Esau said after she spoke at the meeting, she was told by Lisa Kelly, the regional vice-president for long-term care for Sienna Living, that she would be in town for a couple of days to give employees a chance to come forward with information about operations at the facility.

Hopefully Sienna will be able to resolve this issue and prevent any more neglect and abuse, Esau wrote in an email.

Asked about inspections at the facility, a spokesperson for Fraser Health explained that assisted living sites are not licensed by Fraser Health but are done so through the Ministry of Health via the assisted living registry. The Ministry is responsible for inspection.

Fraser Health funds The Cascades for healthcare services only, and bed bugs are not a health issue.

While a considerable nuisance, bed bugs are not considered a health concern and theres no evidence they spread disease to people, according to senior public affairs consultant Tasleem Juma. However, there is the possibility of secondary infection if bites are scratched.

We investigate all healthcare-related complaints and if they are substantiated, we work closely with the site to resolve the concern and ensure they are in compliance with the requirements of the contract we have with them.

Sienna Living said the company continues to work with Fraser Health and the Ministry of Health to ensure safety and quality standards are met.

The Cascades Lodge and Manor is well respected in the Chilliwack community and I am delighted to share that The Cascades has an Exemplary rating by Accreditation Canada and quality indicators are consistent with the provincial average in B.C., Gokchenian said. Our recent resident satisfaction survey had a 97 per cent response rate from residents at The Cascades who rated the care at the residence higher than in past years with an increase in resident satisfaction.

@PeeJayAitchpaul.henderson@theprogress.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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Owners of BC care home in damage control after 94-year-old left with bed bugs for days - Victoria News