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November 22, 2024
The City of Edmonton is activating its extreme weather response to help keep vulnerable Edmontonians safe during the cold weather expected in the coming days. The response starts on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 9 a.m. and is expected to end on Sunday, December 1 at 9 a.m. The response will be extended if weather conditions remain extremely cold beyond this timeframe.
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, typically accompanied by an Environment Canada alert for extreme cold. Open City facilities such as recreation centres and libraries will be available for anyone seeking respite from the extreme cold.
The City encourages vulnerable Edmontonians to go to shelters to protect themselves from winter conditions. Shelters are the safest option because they protect vulnerable Edmontonians from frostbite, loss of limbs and death.
If you see someone sheltering outside, please call 211 immediately and ask for the Crisis Diversion Team. This 24/7 service can help connect vulnerable individuals to transportation, shelter and the support they need. By making that call, you could be protecting someone from harm—and potentially saving a life.
This winter, the City will continue to provide the same critical services needed during the winter to supplement the existing homeless system of care.
Extreme Weather Bus Routes
- Two shelter shuttles - along north and south routes - will run nightly from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. until March 31, 2025, providing transportation to available shelter spaces.
- During extreme weather activations, a third shuttle - along the west route - will be added to cover additional areas in the city, regardless of temperature.
- Outreach workers are on each shuttle to help passengers access available emergency shelter spaces and make referrals to other services. The routes are:
- North route starts from Northgate Transit Centre to downtown.
- South route starts from Southgate Transit Centre to downtown.
- West route starts from Kingsway Transit Centre to downtown.
- Buses, including express routes, will stop if a person is waiting at any bus stop along the route.
- Maps of the bus routes are available at edmonton.ca/ExtremeWeather.
City Facilities
Open City facilities such as libraries and recreation centres will be available during regular operations for anyone to take respite from the cold.
Expanded Overnight Shelter
Al Rashid Mosque (13070 113 Street NW) will open an overnight shelter from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. during extreme weather responses, providing up to 50 spaces to supplement the existing shelter capacity funded by the Government of Alberta.
Day Services
In addition to 24/7 shelter sites, there are day shelter spaces operational in these locations:
- Bissell Centre (10530 96 Street NW) - Day services are provided 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.
- Boyle Street Community Services (15308 Stony Plain Road - 50 people) - Day services are provided 7 days a week, from 8 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
- Christian Care Centre (The Mustard Seed, 10137 150 Street NW - 40 people) - Day services are provided 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Tuesday to Friday.
Navigation Centre
The Navigation Centre, operated by the Government of Alberta and Hope Mission, offers access to 24/7 emergency shelter, income and ID support, health services, housing support and a pet-friendly service. The Navigation Centre is located in the basement of the Karis Centre (10302 107 Street NW) and is open Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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 citizens safe and warm during the cold winter months. The City and partners determine when to activate the City’s extreme weather response considering weather conditions and existing capacity within community spaces for people experiencing homelessness to safely shelter.
In 2019, City Council approved City Policy C620 which formalizes and clarifies the City’s role in the system-wide response to supporting vulnerable Edmontonians during extreme weather conditions.
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.
- The City’s Quick Reference tool has steps you can take to help someone during the winter months.
- Agencies serving people experiencing homelessness are accepting monetary donations, as well as donations of warm clothing and winter gear. For a list of places to donate, visit Homeward Trust Edmonton’s Sector Emergency Response page and scroll down to ‘How You Can Help’.
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