The City of Toronto has opened its four warming centres for the first time this season, providing refuge for individuals experiencing homelessness as temperatures dip below freezing.
The centres, located at 136 Spadina Rd., 81 Elizabeth St., 12 Holmes Ave., and 885 Scarborough Golf Club Rd., began operating at 5 p.m. today. These facilities are part of the city’s Winter Services Plan, which ensures 24-hour support during extreme cold weather.
A fifth site at Cecil Community Centre, 58 Cecil St., serves as a surge location, activated only when temperatures plummet to -15°C or colder. It remains closed for now.
The centres are opened when the temperature drops to -5°C or lower, or when Environment and Climate Change Canada issues a winter weather warning. Tonight, temperatures in the Greater Toronto Area are expected to reach -6°C, with wind chills making it feel like -8°C.
Warming centres offer safe spaces for rest, meals, washroom access, and connections to emergency shelters with additional support services. They are also pet-friendly, ensuring inclusivity for all individuals seeking refuge.
Access is straightforward—individuals can walk into any centre without prior registration. If a location reaches capacity, transportation to another facility will be provided.
City staff also work to transition individuals to alternative shelter spaces as needed, ensuring no one is left without support during severe cold spells.