Toronto will open four warming centres at 5 p.m. on Sunday as temperatures are expected to drop to –6 C in the evening.
The centres provide walk-in, pet-friendly access to a warm shelter and meals for people who are vulnerable and may be experiencing homelessness.
Warming centres open when temperatures reach –5 C or when Environment Canada issues a winter weather event warning.
They remain open 24 hours a day “until it is determined that locations will close,” according to the city’s website.
The four warming centres provide approximately 218 spaces, the website says.
If anyone arrives at a centre that is already at capacity, the city will help with transport to another warming centre that has space, according to a city email Sunday.
The city is expecting to see a high of 1 C on Sunday, with temperatures feeling like –11 C in the morning because of the wind chill.
There is a 30 per cent chance of flurries, with wind chill making temperatures feel like –8 C overnight.
Advocates have been calling on the city to keep warming centres open all winter. On an average night this year, the city shelters about 12,200 people, Gord Tanner, head of shelter and support services for the city, said in October.
Warming centre locations
• 136 Spadina Rd. (south of Dupont Street)
• 81 Elizabeth St. (behind City Hall. West of Bay Street, south of Dundas Street W.)
• 12 Holmes Ave. (Off of Yonge Street, south of Finch Avenue E.)
• 885 Scarborough Golf Club Rd. (East of Markham Road, south of Ellesmere Road.)