Extreme Weather Response
When Calgary’s weather turns dangerous, no one should face it alone. We work with community partners across the city to ensure people experiencing homelessness have access to safe spaces and support when they need it most.
What is EWR?
Extreme Weather Response (EWR) is a collaborative effort between the City of Calgary, Calgary Homeless Foundation, and over 20 local organizations throughout the city. The program provides spaces throughout the city with capacity for 400 individuals experiencing homelessness at any given time, as well as connection to overnight shelters and resources. EWR activates during Calgary’s cold winter months or during other extreme weather conditions that threaten the health and safety of people experiencing homelessness, such as extreme heat or wildfire smoke.
What is extreme weather?
Despite Calgary’s reputation as a cold weather city, extreme conditions can take multiple forms. EWR helps to address all of them.
Extreme cold
When temperatures drop below -20°C, exposure becomes life-threatening within minutes. EWR warming centres provide immediate shelter and connect people to overnight accommodations and longer-term supports.
Extreme heat
High temperatures combined with humidity can cause heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Cooling centres offer relief and hydration during dangerous heat events.
Wildfire smoke
Poor air quality from wildfire smoke poses serious respiratory risks, especially for vulnerable populations. Clean air spaces provide safe environments during smoke events.
Flooding
Severe weather and flooding can displace people and create dangerous conditions. Emergency response includes temporary shelter and connection to essential services.
Warming centres
Warming centres are welcoming, safe, and supportive spaces where individuals can access warm shelter, hot meals and beverages, winter clothing, and connection to support services. Many locations also provide shuttle transportation to overnight shelters. Each centre offers culturally appropriate services and works to create pathways from emergency response to stable housing.
Current day space locations and availability
Journey Church
Warming location offers snacks, essential items and coffee, social supports, and connection to Coordinated Access and Assessment.
November 18, 2024–March 31, 2025 Mon to Fri, 9 am–4 pm Sat to Sun, 11 am–4 pm
Mustard Seed
Culturally safe warminaOffers bagged lunches and snacks, coffee house, warming/drop-in room, light programming, essential items (hygiene items, winter clothing, etc.) and employment coaching.g space offering coffee, tea and bannock.
Regular hours: 8 am–6 pm daily
Shelter bus: 4:30 pm & 5:30 pm daily
Extended hours: Dec 1, 2024–March 31, 2025, 7 am–7 pm daily
Sober environment
Mobile warming and cooling stations
The Salvation Army Mobile Warming and Cooling Stations are in place during EWR activation. They offer food, hot drinks, and transportation to shelters on cold days and tents, bottled water, freezies, snacks and other summer essentials on hot days. These mobile units bring essential services directly to areas where people are sheltering outdoors, ensuring help reaches everyone who needs it.
What is the impact of EWR?
| Impact | 2024-2025 | 2023-2024 | 2022-2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warming space visits | 37,180 | 26,796 | 19,327 |
| Warming space unique individuals | – | 2,296 | 1,695 |
| Outreach team accessing supplies | 23 | 25 | 23 |
| Emergency shelter shuttle transports | 2,227 | 2,823 | 925 |
| Unique individuals accessing shuttle | 1,149 | 1,296 | – |
| 2024–2025 Infographic | 2023–2024 Infographic | 2022–2023 Infographic |
Our EWR partners
Point-in-time count reports
Our biennial Point-in-Time Count provides a snapshot of homelessness in Calgary, helping us understand who is experiencing homelessness and how extreme weather response fits into the broader system of support.
