City of Brockville: Staying Cool in Brockville During Heat Wave

Brockville – Environment Canada has issued a heat warning to last throughout this week. As advised by our local Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit, high temperatures and humidity may affect your health: becoming overheated can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Even short periods of exposure to high temperatures can cause health problems.

The Brockville Memorial Centre functions as a cooling centre during open hours. The City encourages the use of the Splash Pad, the beach at St. Lawrence Park, the Railway Tunnel, and the swim area at Centeen Park to stay cool.

Stay Cool in the City:

Visit the Brockville Public Library at 23 Buell Street
Hours of operation:

• Monday: closed
• Tuesday: 9:00 am to 8:00 pm
• Wednesday: 9:00 am to 8:00 pm
• Thursday: 9:00 am to 8:00 pm
• Friday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Saturday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Sunday: 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm (closed Sundays of long weekends)

Visit the Brockville Memorial Civic Centre at 100 Magedoma Boulevard
Hours of operation:

• Monday: 8:00 am to 3:30 pm
• Tuesday: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
• Wednesday: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
• Thursday: 8:00 am to 3:30 pm
• Friday: 8:00 am to 3:30 pm

Cool off in the Railway Tunnel:

• This underground attraction stays the same cool temperature all year, providing natural “air conditioning” for visitors: 1 Blockhouse Island Parkway
  Hours of operation: daily from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm

Visit the Rotary Park Splash Pad on Gilmour Street

• Open daily from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm

Swim in the river, if water conditions are safe to do so and if you are a capable swimmer

• St. Lawrence Park Beach: 525 King Street West
• Centeen Park: 85 Water Street East

For those who don’t have air conditioning and are looking to find a way to stay cool:

• In your house, keep electric lights off or turned down low.
• Keep window shades or drapes drawn and blinds closed on the sunny side of your home.
• Use fans to draw cool air at night, but do not rely on a fan as a main cooling device during long periods of high heat and humidity.
• To keep yourself cool:
  • Take a cool bath or shower periodically or cool down with cool, wet towels.
  • Visit a local splash pad.
  • The local beaches are not starting bacteria testing until later this month.

Area Cooling Centres:

There are a few other cooling centres being set up in the Leeds, Grenville, and Lanark areas. The health unit will update the information on their website as they learn about them.