Where to keep cool during this week’s ‘extreme’ heat

The pool inside the Orillia Recreation Centre in Orillia, Ont. (Source: City of Orillia -- FILE IMAGE)

The City of Orillia announced on Sunday that they are opening several cooling centres for public use early this week during the forecasted extreme heat conditions.

In a news release, the city stated that the Orillia Public Library and the Orillia Recreation Centre will offer air-conditioned cooling and hydration centres. They will are set to be open on Monday and Tuesday and until the heat warning is lifted.

The library and recreation centre hours on those days are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. respectively.

The city also confirmed the opening of the following splash pads and listed their respective hours:

• McKinnell Square Park (135 Dunedin Street), 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Clayt French Park (114 Atlantis Drive), 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Victoria Park (75 Coldwater Road West), 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Hillcrest Park (255 Matchedash Street North), 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Moose Beach at J.B. Tudhope Memorial Park (450 Atherley Road), 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Walter Henry Park (3050 Orion Boulevard), 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

City staff say they are encouraging everyone to make use of the cooling centres, particularly those who are susceptible to extreme heat.

The City of Barrie also announced last week that all of their public facilities will offer cooling centres during their normal operating hours.

According to Environment Canada, the Simcoe Muskoka region is one of many under a widespread heat warning for dangerous heat and humidity expected to last from Sunday afternoon until Tuesday.

The heat warning extends across almost all of Southern and Central Ontario, as far southwest as Windsor, as far north as the Huntsville area, and as far northeast as the Quebec border.