Calgary Gears Up for Winter with Expanded Warming Stations

As Calgary braces for the winter of 2025-2026, the city has launched an extensive Extreme Weather Response to safeguard its homeless population. This initiative, a collaborative effort with over 20 organizations, underscores the community's proactive interest in winter preparedness.

Citywide Collaboration

The program, operational from December 1 to March 31, offers daytime warming spaces and overnight transportation to shelters. Notable partners include The Mustard Seed and The Salvation Army, which deploys mobile warming stations. Two former warming spaces have transitioned to permanent year-round operations, enhancing capacity and accessibility.

Balancing Immediate and Long-Term Needs

While city officials praise the program's collaborative success, advocacy groups highlight ongoing challenges. They call for more deeply affordable housing, stressing that emergency responses are not a substitute for long-term solutions. As Calgary moves forward, the challenge remains to balance immediate life-saving efforts with addressing homelessness's root causes.