City initiatives helping Edmontonians stay safe in the cold
November 7, 2025

As temperatures drop, the City of Edmonton is doing its part to ensure no one is left without the help they need this winter.

Winter shelter shuttle
  • An overnight transportation service is operating now until March 31, 2026, on north and south routes from 10 p.m. - 6 a.m. This service runs regardless of temperature to support Edmontonians who need transportation to emergency shelters. 
  • A 24/7 Hope Mission shuttle bus will operate on a west route from Kingsway Transit Centre to downtown, providing ongoing access to shelters, day services and healthcare facilities. 
  • Find route maps at edmonton.ca/ExtremeWeather.
City facilities
Open City facilities such as recreation centres and libraries are available during regular operational hours for anyone needing a place to warm up.

Extreme weather activations
The City activates an extreme weather response when the forecast anticipates -20 degrees Celsius or lower with wind chill for at least three days in a row. Additional resources include:
  • Adding a third bus to the overnight shuttle service on the north route to ensure additional capacity is available to transport people to available shelters.
  • Additional overnight shelter spaces at Al Rashid Mosque (13070 113 St NW) during extreme weather responses, operating nightly from 5 p.m. - 8 a.m. This supplements permanent emergency shelters funded by the Government of Alberta. The Al Rashid Mosque shelter has capacity for 50 people and is open to anyone. It is on the north bus route.
Shelters
The City encourages vulnerable Edmontonians to go to shelters to protect themselves from winter conditions. Shelters are the safest option to protect unhoused Edmontonians from frostbite, loss of limbs and death. Find a shelter here.

Health and wellness pop-up clinic
Healthier Together is a collaboration between the City, Primary Care Alberta and social agencies to remove obstacles to essential health services and empower people to take charge of their health. The pop-ups take place every Tuesday, weather permitting to -30C, at Butler Park (157 St and Stony Plain Rd) from 12:30 - 4 p.m. On-site medical staff are available to provide wound care, health education and assessments, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and more.

Frostbite awareness
Anyone outside for long periods in cold weather is at risk of frostbite, particularly without proper shelter or warm, dry clothing. If possible, wear layers along with winter boots, a hat and mittens.

Learn to recognize the signs: numb, hard, or waxy skin that looks grey, yellow, purple or brown. Frostbite can cause lasting damage if not treated quickly. If you suspect frostbite, act fast. Go indoors and warm your skin in lukewarm water without rubbing. Avoid direct heat sources such as heating pads or radiators. Go to the hospital if your skin looks or feels different after warming.

The Healthier Together collaboration has created a frostbite guide to help frontline workers assess and refer vulnerable people who may be at risk. The guide is being shared with frontline support workers as well as staff at City recreation centres and Edmonton Public Library branches.

Day services
In addition to 24/7 shelter sites, several daytime spaces are also available at the following locations:
  • AAWEAR Reconnects, 10024 82 Ave NW (upstairs), Tuesdays, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. 
  • Boyle Street Community Services, wâwâhtêwa, 10327 97 St NW, Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 
  • Hope Mission, Bruce Reith Centre, 9908 106 Ave NW, 7 days a week, 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. 
  • Herb Jamieson Centre, 10014 105A Ave NW, Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
  • Jasper Place Wellness Centre, Community Health Centre, 16114 100A Ave NW, Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
  • The Mustard Seed, Canora Community Impact Centre, 15740 Stony Plain Rd NW, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., Wednesdays, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
  • The Mustard Seed, Mosaic Centre, 6504 132 Avenue NW, Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., 1 p.m. - 3 p.m., Tuesdays, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. 
  • The Mustard Seed, Strathcona Baptist Church Community Impact Centre, 8318 104 Street NW (back entrance), Tuesdays - Fridays, 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Stay in the know
Sign up for the City of Edmonton’s Extreme Weather mailing list to receive email updates on activations, extensions and deactivations related to extreme cold, heat and poor air quality.

What you can do
  • Learn to recognize the signs of hypothermia: uncontrollable shivering, drowsiness or exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss or slurred speech; a person with severe hypothermia may be unconscious and may not seem to have a pulse or to be breathing.
  • Call 911 for someone in serious distress or in cases of emergency.
  • Call 211 and press 3 for 24/7 Crisis Diversion non-emergency support for shelter, intoxication or mental health concerns.
  • The City’s Quick Reference tool has steps you can take to help someone in need during the winter months.
  • Agencies serving people experiencing homelessness are accepting monetary donations, as well as warm clothing and winter gear. For a list of donation locations, visit Homeward Trust Edmonton’s Sector Emergency Response page and scroll to the ‘How You Can Help’ section.
For more information:

Media contact:
Hamdi Issawi
Communications Advisor
Community Services
‭780-691-7959‬

City of Edmonton

Edmonton Tower, 10111 104 Avenue, Edmonton, T5J 0J4

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