On the second day of a late-May heat wave, the City of London has opened two cooling centres.
The city announced Tuesday morning that the centres are opening to provide a cool place to go for vulnerable people in the community. The centres are located at the Canada Games Aquatic Centre on Wonderland Road North and the South London Community Centre on Jalna Boulevard. The centres will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"Other amenities within these centres will not be open," the city said. "In setting up the cooling centres, the City has followed all provincial and local health guidelines and appropriate measures will be in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19."
In addition to the cooling centres, the city says several local agencies will be working to help people deal with the heat. London Cares will provide water to people in the downtown core, Youth Opportunities Unlimited will provide service to under five people at a time and will have water available, Atlohsa will provide a resting place via referral from downtown outreach teams, The Ark will have water and snacks available for curbside pickup, and the Canadian Mental Health Association will distribute water through My Sisters Place.
“I’m pleased to see the quick response and high level of collaboration to ensure London’s most vulnerable are supported in the midst of these unseasonably high temperatures,” said London Mayor Ed Holder. “Together, we share a deep commitment to keeping Londoners safe during these extraordinary times, made even more challenging by the impending heat.”