Strengthening the City's Heat Relief Strategy

Toronto is increasingly experiencing the impacts of climate change, including more frequent, prolonged and extreme heat events. The summer of 2025 was among the hottest in the past decade, with a total of 29 days under a Heat Warning issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). The first Heat Warning in June 2025 was marked by high heat, with temperatures reaching 34.5°C, and Humidex values that reached 46, the highest Humidex ever recorded in Toronto for the month of June. The severity of this event highlighted areas where the City's response measures needed strengthening, including expanded access to cool spaces, increased water distribution and more coordinated, proactive communications. Challenges were experienced with the operation of public pools during the Heat Warning, requiring additional staffing, enhanced occupational health and safety measures, and a more proactive approach to pool maintenance to support uninterrupted service. In response, City divisions implemented enhanced measures during summer 2025, and Toronto Emergency Management coordinated an interdivisional review of the Heat Relief Strategy to identify further recommendations for strengthening it. Building on lessons learned from 2025 and City Council direction, the City is advancing an updated Heat Relief Strategy for summer 2026. Key updates include: - Improved public communications to provide timely and accurate information about pool operations through the City's website and 311 Toronto. - Enhanced occupational health and safety measures and operational readiness for indoor and outdoor pools, including pre-season facility and equipment assessments to provide continuous and reliable operations and safe conditions for staff and the public. - Improved contingency plans for CampTO to reduce heat exposure for staff and children during the heat season, including the purchase and deployment of portable air conditioning units to ensure every camp had access to a designated cool space. - Expanded access to cool spaces, including the introduction of a 24-hour cool space during Heat Warnings. - Dedicated engagement with vulnerable populations, including the dissemination of heat-related information and, in some cases, direct check-ins during heat events. Building on a 2025 Canadian Red Cross pilot, future outreach pilots will be explored, informed by best available evidence and approaches scalable to a city the size of Toronto. - Expanded access to drinking water through deployment of water trailers and distribution of bottled water. - Strengthened emergency management, including a pre-season tabletop exercise in April 2026 and continuing to convene the Heat Warning Table ahead of forecasted alerts to coordinate Heat Warning-activated services. This report has been prepared in coordination with two other climate-related reports being presented to City Council: Progress and Priorities for Enhancing Toronto's Climate Resilience (led by Environment, Climate and Forestry) and Towards Implementing a Maximum Indoor Temperature Requirement for Rental Units and Cooling Rooms (led by Municipal Licensing and Standards, co-signed by Toronto Public Health and Environment, Climate and Forestry). Together, all three reports contribute to a coordinated approach to enhancing immediate and long-term heat resilience across Toronto. The Heat Relief Strategy will be updated after City Council considers these two related reports, ensuring alignment across all three initiatives. The 2026 Heat Relief Strategy will be finalized and posted publicly on the City's website by May 1, 2026.