Five places to cool off in Ottawa and Gatineau during the August heat warning
A heat warning is in effect for the city of Ottawa, as Environment Canada's forecast calls for the hottest weekend of the summer.
The forecast calls for a high of 31 C on Saturday and Sunday, with the humidex making it feel like 41 degrees.
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at five places to cool off in Ottawa and Gatineau during the heat warning. Ottawa's malls, movie theatres and museums will also be open all weekend if you're looking for a place with air conditioning to cool off.
BEACHES
Three Ottawa public beaches are open over the weekend, with lifeguards on duty daily between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
The city of Ottawa's beaches are:
- Petrie Island Beach
- Britannia Beach
- Mooney's Bay Beach
Westboro Beach is closed for the summer due to construction.
The National Capital Commission says lifeguards are on duty daily at beaches in Gatineau Park.
The NCC's beaches are:
- La Peche Lake
- Meech Lake (Blanchet)
- Meech Lake (O'Brien)
- Philippe Lake (Breton)
- Philippe Lake (Parent)
- Philippe Lake (Smith)
The city of Gatineau's public beaches are also open. The beaches are located at:
- Parc des Cedres – Rue Raoul-Roy and the Ottawa River
- Parc du Lac-Beauchamp
- Parc Moussette
OTTAWA WADING POOLS, SPLASH PADS AND SWIMMING POOLS
The city of Ottawa's wading pools, splash pads and swimming pools are open daily.
For more information on locations and hours, visit the city of Ottawa's website.
GATINEAU POOLS
The city of Gatineau is extending the hours of operation at wading pools and outdoor swimming pools this weekend.
The following swimming pools will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. this weekend.
- Piscine et pataugeoire Fontaine (120 rue Charlevoix, secteur de Hull);
- Piscine Sauvageau (179 rue Mutchmore, Hull)
- Piscine Laurent-Groulx (1 rue Lévesque, Hull)
- Piscine Desjardins (1 rue Goyette, Hull)
- Piscine La Vérendrye (730 rue Main, Gatineau)
- Piscine Jack-Eyamie (40 rue du Bassin, Masson-Angers)
- Plage du parc des Cèdres (15 rue Raoul-Roy, Aylmer)
- Plage du parc Moussette (361 boul. Lucerne, Hull)
- Plage du parc du Lac-Beauchamp (741, boul. Maloney Est, Gatineau)
OTTAWA PUBLIC LIBRARY BRANCHES/COMMUNITY CENTRES
The city of Ottawa says you can cool off at all Ottawa Public Library branches.
For a list of branches, visit https://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/current-branch-services
City of Ottawa community centres are open for people to cool off.
For information on the community centre near you, visit the city of Ottawa's interactive map.
WATER PARKS
Water parks are open near Ottawa to cool off.
- Calypso Theme Waterpark in Limoges, Ont. Calypso is home to the largest wave pool in Canada, over 35 slides and 100 water games.
- Mont Cascades is located in Cantley, Que., seven kilometres from Hwy. 307. Mont Cascades is home to many waterslides, including Black Magic. Rapids River, Splash Forest and Kidz Zone.
TIPS TO COOL OFF
Ottawa Public Health offers tips to cool off during the hot weather
- Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol and caffeine
- Avoid heavy outdoor activity
- Wear a hat, light and loose-fitting clothing, sunscreen, and sunglasses when outside
- Cool off in an air-conditioned space when available
- Cool off in the shade at a park or green space
- Use a fan and mist your skin with water
- Take cool baths and showers or soak hands or feet in cool water
- Keep your home cool by closing blinds and curtains on any windows facing the sun
- Open windows at night once the outdoor air is cooler than the indoor air; close windows in the morning before hotter air comes in
- Use fans at night to help exhaust warm indoor air and/or bring in cool outdoor air
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.