Skip to content
  1. Home
  2. Local News

Extended hours continue at region's warming centres as storm approaches

Help available for anyone needing a place to warm up
CambridgeToday Staff
img_3309
A pedestrian makes his way across Ainslie Street in downtown Galt during a winter storm.Doug Coxson/CambridgeToday

The Region of Waterloo is getting ahead of today's storm to remind residents and vulnerable members of the community about warming centres and other supports it has set up in all three cities.

A Texas low tracking through the region late this afternoon and overnight is expected to dump 20 cm of heavy wet snow and possibly rain, and arrive with strong winds up to 70 km/h.

In Cambridge, warming centres that will be open to accommodate people seeking shelter during the storm include 150 Main St., Idea Exchanges in Preston, Galt and Hespeler during regular hours and the W. G. Johnson Centre on Kribs Street.

In the week following a snow storm that hit the region just before Christmas on Dec. 23, 2022, the region launched extended hours at its warming centres, including 150 Main St., through March, if needed. Prior to the change, warming centres were only open for that purpose during extreme cold or heat warnings issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada.

A new interactive map, was also launched in January to help people find centres more easily. 

Additional support for those needing shelter from winter weather was also made available through region-funded emergency shelters, street outreach programs and drop-in programs to provide expanded services where possible. That support includes opening more shelter beds, as available, and encouraging those living in encampments to seek shelter.

The Region’s Pocket Card Guide to Services provides a list of locations and contact information for shelters, drop-in services and street outreach throughout Waterloo Region.

In early December, the region and The Working Centre distributed warming packages to unsheltered homeless that included winter clothing, a warm sleeping bag, an insulated sleeping pad, and other outdoor winter supplies.