People in southern and central Quebec are feeling the heat, and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
With the humidity, it’ll feel like 40 C during the hottest points of the next few days, with temperatures only lowering as of Friday.
In times of sweltering heat, children younger than four and seniors are among the most vulnerable.
That’s why cities like Montreal, Laval and Quebec City are rolling out a series of measures to help residents stay as cool as possible.
Here are some options if you feel worn out by the weather and need a few hours to cool off.
Montreal
The city of Montreal has about 70 outdoor pools. For now, they’re opening 25 of them.
Philippe Sabourin, a city spokesperson, said logistical challenges like cleaning the pools, filling them up and staffing them are a big part of the reason why the city can’t just open all of its pools right away.
He also said the school year isn’t over yet, which means even if the city did open all of its outdoor pools, they wouldn’t be used as much during the day.
Montreal has also opened 40 indoor swimming pools and nearly all of its 184 splash pads are working.
Sabourin says the number of open pools and splash pads and their operating hours will vary from one borough to the next. The same goes for the hours for public libraries and Maisons de la culture. It’s best to call 311 or check on your borough’s website or social media page to know when services are available.
The spokesperson also said Montreal police and the city’s social intervention squad, known by its French acronym EMMIS, will be on the lookout for people experiencing homelessness. Teams will be distributing water bottles and offering people who are stuck outdoors a chance to go inside a shelter to get away from the heat temporarily.
Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for June 18 to June 20 for Quebec and Ontario. Climatologists say it’s the first heat wave of the summer, but won’t be the last.
Laval
The city of Laval says six of its 20 outdoor pools and five of its six indoor pools are open to the public. Out of 13 splash pads, 10 are open.
The city says it plans to have all of its pools and splash pads to be available in the coming days.
People in Laval can consult this online list of which pools and splash pads are open.
Longueuil
In Longueuil, residents will have to wait until June 22 to use outdoor public pools. Right now, the city doesn’t plan to open any of them ahead of schedule.
Splash pads will be available between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., and the full list of available locations is online.
The city’s opening hours for public libraries are also online. The hours this week will be the regular ones, with one change: The Muriel-Anne-Brown Library in Greenfield Park is normally closed on Wednesdays, but this week it will be open from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Quebec City
Quebec City’s 66 splash pads will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
About a dozen of the provincial capital’s public pools are already open and accessible between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m., but a large majority of them are still closed for now.
Many of the city’s indoor pools will be available to the public.
Community centres will be open to the public, including some that will extend their hours until 9 p.m.
For more information, you can call 311.