Future of Health and Wellness Speaker Series tackles heat and climate change

Posted on Monday, April 7th, 2025

With snow still on the ground and predicted in the forecast, it’s hard to imagine hot and humid days are around the corner, but the issue of extreme heat was on people’s minds on the morning of, Friday, Apr. 4 at the Future of Health and Wellness Speaker Series.

Algonquin College, in partnership with Ottawa Public Health, hosted a panel discussion centered around the crucial theme of extreme heat and its impact and climate change resilience.

Algonquin President and CEO Claude Brulé moderated this conversation and welcomed panelists Dr. Glen Kenny, Professor, Climate Studies, University of Ottawa, Caroline Metz, Managing Director, Climate Resilience and Health at the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, University of Waterloo and Stéphane Giguère, Chief Executive Officer, Ottawa Community Housing Corporation.

Climate change is the greatest threat to human health of the 21st century, already affecting the health and wellbeing of many Canadians. With the effects of climate change, Ottawa is expected to have four times as many hot days over 30°C by 2050. Rising temperatures due to climate change pose significant risks to the health and wellbeing of our communities and further strain Ottawa’s healthcare system.

“Heat is different, it can be dangerous and life threatening,” said Metz. “We lose more people from heat than all-weather hazards combined. Heat is something that could harm us, our families and our neighbours.”

Metz explained that extreme heat affects everyone, and it is essential at the municipal level to have multiple departments collaborating, including public health, to manage this growing threat.

Particular attention should focus on the elderly populations, according to the panelists.

Giguère shared that his organization, the Ottawa Community Housing Corporation houses almost 7000 seniors, and he urged the importance of collaboration and partnership with local agencies. Keeping temperatures at cool levels, offering communal cooling areas, even adding curtains to prevent sun from coming in windows, are all ways to lower temperature. “We need to ensure our residents have access to better conditions during heatwaves,” he said.

Metz agreed. “In British Columbia in 2021, 98 per cent of deaths occurred indoors. We want to keep indoor temperatures around 21°C or 22°C. Indoor temperatures over 31°C for extended period is dangerous for everyone.”

“We think about protecting our workers, it is a one size fits all approach, and we have an aging workforce,” said Kenny. “We have to make sure all workers are protected, not just the young.”

Giguère also spoke of the importance of healthcare and housing. He referenced building codes from the 1950s, 60s or 70s that did not include extreme weather. “We need to be providing the conditions in our buildings to ensure people have access to cooling areas and the proper levels of heat.” One way this can be done is to ensure thermostats have a minimum/maximum setting, so units don’t become too cold or too hot.

There is also an urban planning element which may be considered. “Urban greening is an approach to increasing green spaces, bringing nature into cities with green roofs, green walls to provide cooling,” said Metz. “Greening cities really makes cities more comfortable and lower air temp by as much as four degrees.”

Other environmental tips include adding shading on exterior windows, having curtains and blinds on interior windows, upgrading installation and painting roofs white. Protecting and maintaining a mature tree canopy was also encouraged. All are methods to reduce temperatures. 

Kenny also suggested reviewing a health guide checklist for suggestions and doing wellness checks on neighbours, as well as visiting cooling centres when needed.

The Future of Health and Wellness Speaker Series is designed to bring together key leaders and influencers from the health and wellness sectors across the Ottawa Valley for a conversation about the changes and shifts that will affect our healthcare system in the years to come. 

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