Keep yourself and your family safe during extreme heat events
Extreme heat can be dangerous, especially for seniors, infants, and people with pre-existing health conditions. The City of Burnaby has several resources and tips to help you stay safe during hot weather.
Monitoring and response
The City monitors the weather forecast, and any alerts or warnings from a combination of sources. Generally, our extreme heat response is triggered when 2 or more consecutive days of daytime maximum temperatures are expected to reach 29°C or warmer and nighttime minimum temperatures are expected to fall to 16°C or warmer or when Environment Canada issues an extreme heat warning.
Cooling Centres
During extreme heat, the City will open 4 Cooling Centres (open 10 am to 10 pm daily until the heat subsides) at:
- Bonsor Recreation Complex (6550 Bonsor Ave)
- Temporary Cameron Community Centre at The City of Lougheed Shopping Centre (9855 Austin Avenue)
- Edmonds Community Centre (7433 Edmonds St)
- Eileen Dailly Leisure Pool & Fitness Centre (240 Willingdon Ave)
These centres provide comfortable seating, drinking water, washrooms, pay showers, Wi-Fi and electrical outlets. Pets are permitted in designated areas as long as they are kept on a leash or in a cage or crate.
City facilities and parks
You can also find relief from the heat at any public City facility during operating hours. This includes all recreation centres, libraries, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, Burnaby Village Museum and City Hall. Many Burnaby parks offer shade and green spaces where temperatures can be lower than homes without air conditioning.
An interactive map shows cooling features in parks, including outdoor pools, spray parks, water fountains, misting stations and shade structures.
Pop-up outdoor cooling station
The City supports a pop-up outdoor cooling station run by the Society to End Homelessness in Burnaby at:
- Civic Square (6100 Willingdon Ave, outside Bob Prittie Metrotown Library)
Washroom facilities, drinking water, seating and free public Wi-Fi will be available on site.
Recognizing and responding to heat-related illnesses
If you suspect someone may be suffering from heat stroke, call 911 immediately.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea and headache. Heat stroke is more severe and can cause confusion, loss of consciousness and high body temperature. If you suspect heat stroke, seek medical help immediately.
General tips for staying cool:
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day, even if you do not feel thirsty.
- Stay cool: Take a cool shower or bath, or fill a bucket with cold water to soak your feet in.
- Avoid strenuous activities: Limit physical activities during the hottest parts of the day.
- Wear light clothing: Dress in lightweight, loose-fitting and light-colored clothing.
- Check on vulnerable individuals: Regularly check on older family, young children and those with health conditions to ensure they have access to water and in a cool environment.