Staying safe during heat events by using the city’s Cooling Sites.

“Cooling places” provide ‘vulnerable’ Hamiltonians with a space to chill during heat events.

According to an article in The Spectator in the spring of 2022, the city encourages people needing respite from the sun to drop into public libraries, recreation centres and service offices, for a blast of air conditioning during heat advisories. The consequences of not giving “vulnerable” populations a place to cool off would be dire, said Janet Robinson, the coordinator of the city’s heat response program. “We’d be very worried about our community. We’d be very worried about people who have health issues and about people who might not know how to care for themselves in these heat situations.”

During heat events the city will be activating its “cooling place”, each marked by signs that say “Cool Down Here.” Also, open swims at city pools will be free. Find a list of cooling sites at hamilton.ca/heat.

“Extreme heat affects everyone,” Environment Canada says, but risk is greater for young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses and people working or exercising outdoors.

The most important advice to staying safe in extreme heat? Drink plenty of water and stay in a cool place.

For the most up-to-date weather information, go to weather.gc.ca/warnings.