February 23, 2024
The City of Edmonton will activate its extreme weather response to help keep vulnerable Edmontonians safe during the cold weather on Sunday, February 25, at noon. It is targeted to end on Friday, March 1, at 9 a.m., based on current forecasts. If weather conditions remain cold beyond this timeframe, the response will be extended.
The threshold for activating the City’s extreme weather response is a temperature of -20 degrees Celsius with wind chill for at least three consecutive nights. Open City facilities such as recreation centres and libraries will be available during regular hours of operation for anyone to get out of the extreme cold and warm up. The City’s LRT system and stations are not part of the extreme weather response. Transit spaces, including LRT Stations and Transit Centres are not suitable substitutes for proper shelter space as they lack basic amenities such as washrooms, are often inadequately heated, and do not allow those using the space to safely connect with important social supports. The City encourages vulnerable Edmontonians to go to shelters to protect themselves from winter conditions.
This activation includes the following components:
Extreme Weather Bus Routes
- A third bus will be added, during extreme weather activations only, to the existing overnight Winter Shelter Shuttle Service currently operating from November 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024, so that there is more capacity for transporting people to available emergency shelters.
- Support staff is available on each bus to help passengers access available emergency shelters and referrals to other services. The routes run from 11 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
- North route starting from Northgate Transit Centre to downtown,
- South route starting from Southgate Transit Centre to downtown,
- West route starting from Stadium Transit Centre to downtown
- Maps of the bus routes are available at edmonton.ca/extremeweather.
Expanded Overnight Shelter
- 50 temporary shelter spaces will open Monday night at the City-funded Al Rashid Mosque in north Edmonton from 5 p.m. - 9 a.m., supplementing the existing shelter capacity funded by the Government of Alberta.
- The Winter Shelter Shuttle Service north route will include transit to the Al Rashid Mosque starting Sunday, February 25 at 11 p.m.
Day Services
- Bissell Centre will operate its Community Spaces:
- Seven days per week
- Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. and Sunday 10:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
- The Community Space functions as a service hub, where participants can access supports, including: basic services (laundry, showers, food), housing, Indigenous cultural, mental health, and employment support.
- Boyle Street Community Services will increase capacity at the following winter warming hubs, which allow participants to access warm spaces during the day:
- CO*LAB (9641- 102A Ave NW), Sunday to Thursday, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- St. Faith's Anglican Church (11725- 93 St NW), Thursday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Friday 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- St. Luke’s Anglican Church (8424- 95 Ave NW), Monday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- All Saints Anglican Cathedral (10035- 103 St NW), Tuesday 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Thursday, 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
- St Mary’s Anglican Church (11203- 68 St NW), Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Good Shepherd Anglican Church (15495 Castle Downs Road NW), Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- C5 NE Hub (14017 Victoria Trail), Sunday 4 p.m. - 8 p.m., Monday to Wednesday, 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.
- Stony Plain Road (15308 Stony Plain Road), Monday to Sunday 1 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Other mobile supports
- The City supports the Mobile Support Services Bus operated by Boyle Street Community Services all winter regardless of temperature until April 30, 2024, which provides food, winter clothing, blankets and transportation to warming centres and shelter and connection to other support services.
Sector Emergency Response
The activation is part of the Sector Emergency Response, a collaboration between the City, Homeward Trust and more than 25 system and partner agencies working together to keep vulnerable residents safe and warm every night. The Winter response runs every year from November 1 to April 30 during winter conditions. The City and partners determine when it’s appropriate to activate the City’s extreme weather response considering weather conditions and existing capacity within community spaces for people experiencing homelessness to safely shelter.
What People Can Do
- Learn to recognize the signs of hypothermia: uncontrollable shivering, drowsiness or exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, or slurred speech; a person with severe hypothermia may be unconscious and may not seem to have a pulse or to be breathing.
- Call 911 for someone in serious distress or in cases of emergency.
- Call 211, press 3 for 24/7 Crisis Diversion non-emergency support for shelter, intoxication and mental health.
- Agencies serving people experiencing homelessness are accepting monetary donations, as well as donations of warm clothing and winter gear. Please visit Homeward Trust Donate page for more information.
- For more information on available resources during winter and extreme cold weather, visit Homeward Trust Edmonton’s Sector Emergency Response web page.
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