Hot weather can put your health at risk. Heat-related illness includes heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat fainting, heat rash and muscle cramps. Finding and spending time in a cool space can help protect against the effects of hot weather.
The City’s Heat Relief Network provides residents with access to a number of cool spaces. However, many city locations, including most Heat Relief Network facilities, are expected to stay closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To ensure that emergency heat relief opportunities are available and accessible to those who may need it, 14 Emergency Cooling Centres will open across the city during Heat Warnings.
The Emergency Cooling Centres will open in civic centres and community centres across the city that are otherwise closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. These designated sites will only open during Heat Warnings issued by Environment & Climate Change Canada. Information about the location and hours of operations for the Emergency Cooling Centres.
The Emergency Cooling Centres are available to residents if they do not have access to a cool space and cannot keep cool in their home or outdoors.
In the event that public health measures are eased over the summer, the City will look to expand access to cool spaces through a Heat Relief Network, which may include libraries, community centres, pools, Civic Centres or other City facilities, and several private and non-profit organizations. Information on the location of cool spaces will be made available on toronto.ca/keepcool.
Spending time in a cooler environment during extremely hot weather lowers the core body temperature and helps to protect against heat-related illness. If you do not have access to air conditioning, cool down by following these tips or visit an available cool space in the city.
Additionally, access to cool spaces for people who are experiencing homelessness will be integrated into pre-existing services that already serve vulnerable populations such as shelters, drop-ins and respite centres.