Beat the heat in Ottawa
Summertime and its hot weather are around the corner. The City of Ottawa and many community agencies and partners work together to share heat-related illness prevention messages and ensure options are available for people to Beat the Heat. Heat-related illnesses and deaths are preventable. With preparation, everyone can safely experience summer in Ottawa.
There are many public places that residents and visitors can cool off in Ottawa, including beaches, swimming pools, splash pads, wading pools, parks, libraries, and community buildings. The public is welcome to visit many air-conditioned City facilities during regular hours of operation.
What is the risk of hot weather?
Hot and humid weather can impact the body’s ability to keep itself at a normal temperature, and result in heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and even death. Everyone is at risk if the body gets too hot. However, some people are more quickly affected by heat – particularly young children, older adults (65+), people experiencing homelessness, those who work or exercise/play outdoors, and those with certain medical conditions.
An indoor room temperature of 26°C (79°F) and above can increase the risk of heat-related illness. Stay safe and check in on family, friends and neighbours who may be at greater risk.
How can Ottawa Public Health assist in extreme heat?
Ottawa Public Health (OPH) uses its website and social media posts to share information on how to prepare for hot weather. Extreme Heat Warning alerts are issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) when the temperature or humidex are expected to stay too hot for at least two days in a row (high 31°C and low 20°C, or a humidex of 40).
OPH shares these alerts via social media to notify the public and community agencies that assist people at greater risk of heat-related illness.
Visit the OPH Extreme Heat and Humidity↗ website for heat safety resources:
Beat the Heat poster (also available in French↗, Arabic↗, Somali↗, Nepalese↗, Simplified Chinese↗, Spanish↗, Punjabi↗ and Turkish↗)
Infographics on cost-effective home heat protection↗ and apartment and condo heat protection↗
An interactive map↗ of places to cool off in Ottawa, including City parks, pools, splash pads, libraries, and more
What to do if there is a power outage during a heat wave↗
The “Find Your Way Community Resource Guide↗” provides contact information for services such as shelters and drop-in centres
Download the WeatherCAN↗ app to get directly notified of ECCC alerts.
Visit the Health Canada website↗e to see ways to protect yourself and loved ones during an extreme heat event.
Call for advice and support during hot weather:
Call 2-1-1 for social services assistance information such as locations and to access information about day programs, meals, and how to access homeless shelters. Find out more about shelters↗ in Ottawa.
Call 3-1-1 to get assistance for someone who needs transportation to a shelter to get out of the heat.
Call 8-1-1 Health Connect Ontario for non-emergency medical advice.
Call 9-1-1 for any medical emergency such as heat stroke.
Follow OPH on Facebook↗, Bluesky↗ and Instagram↗ for information on public health topics such as extreme heat and humidity.