Extreme Heat

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Maple Ridge is no stranger to hot summers, and extreme heat events are becoming more common. The City has many measures in place to help residents cope.

The City's heat response plan includes monitoring weather alerts from Environment Canada and Climate Change and from the BC Heat Alert and Response System. There are three levels of heat alerts: 

Yellow Heat Warning – issued when two or more consecutive days of daytime maximum temperatures are expected to reach 33°C or warmer and nighttime minimum temperatures are expected to fall only as low as 15°C or warmer. These warnings tend to occur approximately three times per summer

Orange Heat Warning - issued for very high temperatures, when three or more days exceed 33°C and nighttime minimum temperatures exceed 15°C. These are uncommon, occurring approximately once per summer.

Red Heat Alert – issued during Orange Warning conditions, with a pattern of substantive, day-over-day increase for three or more consecutive days. These warning are rare.

Sign up for emergency alerts with Alertable to be notified of Yellow, Orange and Red heat warnings. 

Cooling Centre Activation 

When an Orange Heat Warning is issued, the City will open a cooling centre at the Greg Moore Youth Centre (11925 Haney Place) from 11:00 am to 8 pm. The hours can be adapted depending on the temperature of the day. 

During Extreme Heat

  • Never leave children or pets unattended in a vehicle.
  • Limit the amount of time outdoors between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm when the heat and sun are most intense. 
  • Check in on family members and neighbours who may need help.

Where to Cool Down in the City

Support for Vulnerable Populations

During heat warning events, the City’s Bylaw Compliance Officers and Community Safety Officers work with unhoused residents through the Community Resource Hub and partner agencies to provide wellness checks, hand out water, and ensure that support services are available. 

  • The Community Resource Hub will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday during any heat event and will provide water and misting stations. 
  • The Salvation Army (22188 Lougheed Hwy) will be open daily between 10:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. and will provide a cooling centre, meals, showers, and laundry services. 

Get Support to Cool Your Living Space 

During longer stretches of hot weather, indoor temperatures can stay high even after the sun goes down. Family members, friends and neighbours are encouraged to check in and help older adults – especially those who live alone or do not have air conditioning:

  • Cooler Condos Guide, which provides practical information for B.C. strata buildings on overheating risks and cooling options. 
  • Strata Energy Advisor Program through ZEIC’s BC Retrofit Accelerator for support with planning building upgrades and finding available rebates. 
  • CleanBC Energy Coach or certified Energy Advisor for advice on upgrades that can help make homes cooler and more energy efficient. 
  • LandlordBC’s Rental Apartment Retrofit Accelerator, a free program that provides expert engineering support to plan energy upgrades that can improve cooling and comfort. 
  • BC Hydro rebates offers rebates select high-efficiency air conditioners and air purifiers for all residents including renters until Aug. 21, 2026. People referred through regional health authority programs may be eligible for a free portable air-conditioner.

Stay Informed

Helpful Resources

Here are some resources to help keep safe during extreme heat.

Fraser Health: Resources to prepare for heat

Heat Health Checklist  

Building Resilient Neighborhoods Extreme Heat Guide

Guidance from the Government of Canada on Keeping Children Cool

Health BC: Heat Related Illness in Infants and Young Children

Health BC: Safety for Children During Extreme Heat