City of Edmonton issues early notice of extreme weather response activation next week

The City of Edmonton announced it will activate its extreme weather response in the coming days.

The response will be in effect between Dec. 15 and Dec. 21 at 9 a.m.

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Vulnerable Edmontonians are being encouraged to find shelter at open city facilities including libraries and recreation centres to keep warm during the response.

Typically, the city will activate the extreme weather response when temperatures drop below -20 C with wind chill for three consecutive nights.

Here's what the response entails:

Bus routes

Two shelter buses, one on the north route and the other on the south, will run every night from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. until March 25, 2025, to provide transport to shelters.

When the response is activated, a third shuttle will go on the west route for additional service, regardless of the temperature.

Outreach workers will be present on each bus to help vulnerable passengers access emergency shelter spaces. Those routes include:

• the north route starting from Northgate Transit Centre to downtown;
• the south route starting from Southgate Transit Centre to downtown; and
• the west route starting from Kingsway Transit Centre to downtown.

Shelters

In addition to recreation centres and libraries open during the day, Al-Rashid Mosque, located at 13070 113 St. NW, will provide overnight shelter for up to 50 additional people from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. during extreme weather response.

Other day shelters providing shelter include:

• Bissell Centre at 10530 96 St. NW, open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday;
• Boyle Street Community Services at 15308 Stony Plain Rd., open from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. everyday;
• Christian Care Centre at 10137 150 St. NW, open from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. from Tuesday to Friday; and
• Navigation Centre at 10302 107 St. NW, open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

How to help

Edmontonians can lend a helping hand to keep the vulnerable population safe during the winter.

The city said knowing the signs for hypothermia can help determine if someone is in trouble. Signs of hypothermia include uncontrollable freezing, drowsiness or exhaustion, memory loss, slurred speech, confusion or fumbling hands.

Someone suffering from severe hypothermia may be unconscious and appear to have no signs of pulse or breathing.

If you see someone in distress, call 9-1-1 for emergencies or 2-1-1 then option 3 for the 24/7 Crisis Diversion non-emergency support line.

A reference guide made available by the city explains how to help someone in distress during the winter.

For more information on the upcoming extreme weather response, click the link.