Environment Canada has issued a long duration ‘Heat Warning’ in effect from Thursday through Sunday, and potentially into early next week.
Daytime high temperatures in the low thirties with overnight lows near 20 degrees Celsius are expected, it said.
Hot and humid air can also bring deteriorating air quality and can result in the Air Quality Health Index to approach the high risk category, said the alert.
Environment Canada said extreme heat affects everyone.
“The risks are greater for young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses and people working or exercising outdoors. Never leave people or pets inside a parked vehicle. Watch for the symptoms of heat illness: dizziness/fainting; nausea/vomiting; rapid breathing and heartbeat; extreme thirst; decreased urination with unusually dark urine. When it’s hot eat cool, light meals.”
Oshawa Cooling Centres
Oshawa said it will offer cooling centres in two of its air-conditioned recreation facilities during declared heat events.
Effective Thursday, July 2, in the event that Environment and Climate Change Canada and Region of Durham declare an extreme heat event for Oshawa, cooling centres will operate from 11 am to 7 pm in:
- Delpark Homes Centre – 1661 Harmony Road North
- South Oshawa Community Centre – 1455 Cedar Street
The health and safety of our community members and staff is the city’s top priority. Cooling centre users will have access to washrooms and drinking water. The cooling centres will follow safety protocols (including protocols for screening, entry, exiting and cleaning) and adhere to health authority guidelines to ensure users can practise physical distancing, said a city statement.
Under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the city’s public buildings welcome service animals; pets cannot be accommodated in the cooling centre locations.
Additional options to stay cool
Community members can also cool down by visiting City splash pads and Lakeview Park’s shaded areas and the beach.
Effective Thursday, July 2, the city’s nine splash pads will operate daily from 10 am to 8 pm with hours extended until sunset during extreme heat events.
On a daily basis, city staff will monitor activity at the splash pads and will clean and disinfect the splash pads during each visit. Users are asked to follow posted signage indicating capacity and physical distancing.
Lakeview Park, including beach
Effective Friday, July 3, Lakeview Park Beach will open to the public with limited access. The beach will be staffed with lifeguards daily between 11:30 am and 6:30 pm (weather permitting) with hours extended until sunset during extreme heat events.
Access to the beach will be monitored and controlled between 11:30 am 6:30 pm with a maximum of 500 visitors allowed on the beach at one time to enable physical distancing. Once capacity is reached, visitors may be required to line up while respecting physical distancing and wait to enter the beach.
The pier at Lakeview Park remains closed and volleyball nets are not available. Picnic tables are available for visitors to use while adhering to health authority guidelines and government orders.
Limited washrooms are available at Lakeview Park. A limited number of portable washroom units, including accessible units, with hand sanitizers at each unit are open during the park’s operating hours. As of Friday, July 3, the main washroom building located near the Jubilee Pavilion will be open daily between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. The City is following health authority protocols and the washrooms are being cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis. Users are reminded to respect the posted signage and adhere to physical distancing.
Protect yourself and your family
It is important to think ahead and plan for ways to stay cool and keep in touch with others who may need assistance to stay cool, especially during a heat event.
To help community members take protective action, Durham Region Health Department has implemented the Durham Region Heat Warning and Information System and has information and resources on how to protect yourself and your family during heat events. Learn more at www.durham.ca/heat.
City of Pickering
Residents can go to the Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex, a designated cooling centre.
Where: Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex, 1867 Valley Farm Road, Pickering.
When: Thursday, July 2 – Sunday, July 5 (inclusive) 11 am – 6 pm
Access is through West Salon doors. Extra seating and water will be available in the banquet hall. Leashed pets are welcome providing they are well controlled by their owner.
Do not enter our facility if you:
- Have a fever over 38? Celsius or 100? Fahrenheit
- Have a new cough or difficulty breathing
- Sore throat, hoarse voice and/or difficulty swallowing
- Runny nose, sneezing or nasal congestion (in the absence of underlying reasons for symptoms such as season allergies and post nasal drip)
- Chills
- Headache
- New smell or taste disorder
- Unexplained fatigue/malaise
- Nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain
- Have been diagnosed with Covid-19
- Have travelled outside of Canada in the past 14 days
- Have come into contact with probable or confirmed case of Covid-19
While in our Facility:
- Maintain a distance of 2 metres or 6 feet between yourself and others.
- Wash your hands often with soap & water for at least 20 seconds
- Liberally use the sanitizers found at various stations within the facility.
- Cover your mouth with Kleenex or sneeze or cough into your elbow.
- Use of masks is mandatory.
Customer capacity and flow will be managed by Recreation Complex Staff.
Cooling Centre opened in Port Perry
For Scugog residents in need of a cooling centre during the extreme heat, you may visit the following locations:
Scugog Community Recreation Centre – Pad 2 Lobby**
Located at 1655 Reach Street, Port Perry
Friday, July 3
8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 4
11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday, July 5
11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Splash Pad
Located in Palmer Park, Port Perry
Open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
**Due to the on-going Covid-19 situation, some guidelines will be in place at the cooling centre, including; distance separation of 6 feet (2 meters) must be obtained unless residents are from the same household, masks or *face coverings are required unless there is a medical reason not to do so and a maximum of 10 people will be permitted in the facility at one time.
*Disposable face coverings will be available to residents seeking heat relief and without a face covering.