Grand Erie Public Health has issued a Cold Notification for the Brantford-Brant and Haldimand-Norfolk region effective Feb. 23, 2026, as temperatures are expected to fall below –15 C, with wind chill values reaching –20 C.
The Medical Officer of Health issues a Cold Notification when forecast conditions pose an increased risk of cold-related illness.
Health officials warn that everyone is at risk during extreme cold. At –15 C or colder, exposed skin can freeze in less than 30 minutes, and the likelihood of hypothermia increases significantly.
Those considered most vulnerable include older adults, infants and young children, people with chronic respiratory or heart conditions, individuals taking certain prescription medications, people experiencing homelessness, outdoor workers and exercisers, and residents in poorly insulated or inadequately heated homes.
Grand Erie Public Health recommends dressing in multiple layers, covering exposed skin, drinking warm caffeine- and alcohol-free fluids, and checking regularly on elderly or vulnerable individuals.
Residents can learn to recognize the signs of frostbite and hypothermia at Brantford.ca/ExtremeCold.
Anyone in need of emergency shelter can contact SOAR Community Services Emergency Shelter Intake Services at 1-888-621-0034 or housing@soarcs.com.
Intake services are available 24 hours a day.
Walk-in shelter access is available daily from 8 a.m. to midnight at 73 Murray St., Brantford, and from midnight to 8 a.m. at 331 Dalhousie St.
Additional warming spaces are available during the winter months, including Rosewood House (8 a.m. to 10 p.m.), the Salvation Army Booth Centre during cold alerts, and SOAR Community Services, subject to capacity.
The Blessing Centre at 7 Burnley Ave. is open from Nov. 1 to March 31, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week, providing food and connections to homelessness services.
The Cold Notification remains in effect until cancelled by the Medical Officer of Health.
