Is city doing enough to keep everyone cool in extreme heat?

Torontosun.com
July 25, 2022

Summer sure has been sizzling in Toronto.

Some vulnerable residents need help dealing with the heat when it spikes up near the 40s as it did this week -- and there are different opinions on how well the city responds to those needs.

“I think it is dismal and much worse than in previous years,” said Cathy Crowe, a street nurse and public affiliate with the department of politics and public administration with the faculty of arts at Toronto Metropolitan University.

She says traditional cooling centres have been replaced by the city’s Heat Relief Network, which utilizes shopping centres, libraries, communities centres and pools as ways to beat the heat.

“We have never had an adequate response,” Crowe said.

She says in the past there were cooling centres with refreshments, staff and cots and she called those “the bare minimum response.”

Crowe says on days with heat warnings, the vulnerable should be given free TTC passes to keep cool.

The city’s Heat Relief Network has more than 300 spaces for the vulnerable to seek relief from the hear, said city spokesperson Alex Burke.

The network includes private-sector partners, libraries, community centres and drop-ins. During heat warnings, it extends the hours of city pools.

People take in the sunny weather at Woodbine Beach in Toronto on Sunday, May 29, 2022. 
Heat warnings stretch into day two for large part of Ontario

The network includes shelters and 24-hour respite centres that are available for the homeless.

“The network is pretty comprehensive right now, but we are always looking for ways to expand,” Burke said.

An interactive map is available at www.toronto.ca/coolspaces to help those looking to cool off locate a Heat Relief Network location near them.

The city is also educating landlords about their obligations to provide and air-conditioned place on their property for residents in building where there is no air conditioning.