Preparing Toronto’s Healthcare for Extreme Heat Report

The Collaborative Centre for Climate, Health & Sustainable Care has published a new report, Preparing Toronto’s Healthcare for Extreme Heat, highlighting opportunities to strengthen healthcare preparedness and response to extreme heat across the Toronto region.

Since Fall 2025, health professionals, faculty, and staff across the Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN) and the Collaborative Centre have been working together to explore healthcare preparedness for extreme heat, forming a cross-sector Heat Response Strategy Group. This work led to an in-person workshop held on June 3, 2026, hosted by the Collaborative Centre, in partnership with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the TAHSN Sustainable Health System Community of Practice. It brought together nearly 80 clinicians, healthcare leaders, public health practitioners, emergency preparedness professionals, government representatives, community organizations, researchers, and academic partners, representing over 34 organizations, to explore how the healthcare sector can prepare and respond to extreme heat. 

The report summarizes insights from the workshop, highlighting priorities to strengthen heat preparedness by creating stronger cross-sector coordination, improving identification and support for heat-vulnerable populations, streamlining data and information sharing, and increasing proactive heat preparedness supports by healthcare and community services. 

Key report findings:  

• Coordination and information sharing are fragmented, and strengthening healthcare preparedness will require cross-sector collaboration. 
• Existing healthcare touchpoints (e.g., primary care, home care, pharmacies, paramedicine) can support proactive identification and outreach to heat-vulnerable populations. 
• Engagement from community organizations and government partners is essential to reaching and supporting populations at greater risk. 
• Preparedness efforts should be integrated into routine care, emergency planning, and community services. 
• Data, surveillance, and vulnerability mapping are critical enablers of effective action.