Cooling centres

If Environment Canada issues a humidex advisory, we urge you to cool off indoors, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, limit your time in the sun and take other precautions to avoid a heat-related illness.

Find city facilities you can access as a cooling centre below.

During a declared heat event, our splash pads will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with extended evening operating hours at the Harry Class, Wilson, and Idlewood pools, which remain open until 8:45 p.m., and at Kiwanis Park, which remains open until 8:30 p.m. For a list of swim times at each location, visit kitchener.ca/pools

For a full list of cooling centres across the region, visit region.waterloo.ca.

On this page:

Community centres

These community centres are open as cooling centres during regular hours

Pools and splashpads

During a declared Heat Event, Grand River Recreation Complex - Lyle Hallman Pool (600 Heritage Drive) will be open as a cooling centre during these hours:

Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Outdoor pools and splashpads

If you're looking for somewhere to cool off, visit one of our outdoor pools or splashpads.

During a declared heat event, we have increased capacity at outdoor pools for afternoon and evening swims and extended evening operating hours:

Harry Class, Wilson and Idlewood pools open until 8:45 p.m.
Kiwanis Park open until 8:30 p.m.

For a list of swim times at each location, visit kitchener.ca/pools

We also have splash pads open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the following locations:

- Breithaupt Park, 806 Union Street
- Carl Zehr Square, 200 King Street West (open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
- Centreville Chicopee, 141 Morgan Avenue
- Chandler Mowat, 222 Chandler Drive
- Doon Pioneer Park, 150 Pioneer Drive
- Kingsdale, 78 Wilson Avenue
- RBJ Schlegel Park, 1664 Huron Road
- Vanier Park water play feature, 335 Vanier Drive
- Victoria Park, Courtland Avenue West

These locations do not have indoor air-conditioning.

Arenas

These City of Kitchener arenas will be open as cooling centres:

The Aud (400 East Avenue)
- Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- weekends and holidays: closed

Activa Sportsplex (135 Lennox Lewis Way)
- Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- holidays: closed

Other municipalities

Information about cooling centres in other municipalities in the Region of Waterloo is available on the region's website.

Check on others

During extreme heat, please call or visit family, friends and neighbours, especially isolated adults and seniors, who are at greater risk of heat-related illness, to see if they need help.

Other at-risk groups include people with chronic and pre-existing illnesses, infants and young children, people on certain medications and those who are marginally housed or homeless.

For more information, visit the Region of Waterloo's website.

Land acknowledgement

The City of Kitchener is situated on the traditional territory of the Chonnonton, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee Peoples. We recognize our responsibility to act as stewards for the land and honour the original caretakers who came before us. Our community is enriched by the enduring knowledge and deep-rooted traditions of the diverse First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples who live in Kitchener today.