Denman Community Centre entrance

Cold weather supports in place as the City prepares for winter

November 19 2025 –

Winter is on its way and as we enter our coldest and wettest months, the City of Vancouver is ready to support those who live, work and travel through Vancouver. This includes working with partners to provide additional shelter beds, mobilizing warming centres and being ready to activate our operational winter maintenance plan to help keep people moving on streets and sidewalks. 

Shelters and warming centres

In partnership with BC Housing and non-profit organizations across Vancouver, the City is again activating a variety of additional indoor spaces to help people who are sleeping outside find warm, safe places. This includes: 

  • Temporary winter shelters (TWS) open every night between November 2025 and March 2026. Many shelters operate 24 hours a day and provide meals. These spaces are funded by the province, through BC Housing. The City continues to work closely with BC Housing to identify additional opportunities to add shelter capacity during the winter season. 
  • Extreme weather response (EWR) shelters provide approximately 154 additional beds. Funded by the province and delivered through partnerships with community-based service providers, they are activated based on a set of criteria, which includes: 
    • Temperatures near zero with rainfall that makes it difficult or impossible for those experiencing homelessness to remain dry
    • Sleet or freezing rain or snow accumulation
    • Sustained high winds
    • Temperatures at or below 0°C, or "feels like" 0°C with wind chill
    • Rainfall of at least 50 mm in a 24-hour period  
  • Warming centres are open when temperatures reach -4°C or feel like -4°C with wind chill. These centres are open to everyone, and depending on the location, visitors may bring pets, bicycles and personal carts. Hot drinks and snacks are provided to help people stay warm and nourished

Where to find more information

To support those who may need to seek shelter, as well as residents and businesses wanting to stay informed, information about available shelters and warming centres will be shared in partnership with the Homelessness Services Association of BC (HSABC). Public notification will include:

  • Circulation to service providers, outreach teams, TransLink and other partners who can inform people who are experiencing homelessness.
  • Up to date information about regional EWR activations can also be found through HSABC’s Metro Vancouver Alert notifications Google Drive , which is publicly accessible. 
  • Alerts highlighting EWR shelter spaces and warming centre activations can also be found on the City’s homepage and social media channels.

Winter maintenance on streets and sidewalks

Our annual winter maintenance plan includes street brining, salting and plowing, with a priority focus on major roads, bus routes and bridges within city limits (including bridge sidewalks). This includes our four major pedestrian pathways (Arbutus Greenway, Central Valley Greenway, False Creek Seawall and Coal Harbour Seawall) and the 16 most-used bike routes across the city. 

Residential side streets are not included as part of the maintenance plan, with the exception of priority hills and access routes to hospitals and schools. We prioritize snow and ice treatments on pedestrian pathways before adjacent bikeways. 

Be prepared for cold weather

Whether it's clearing sidewalks, checking in on neighbours or keeping up to date with weather forecasts, everyone has a role to play in keeping Vancouver safe and moving in the colder months. This includes: 

  • Shovel your sidewalk. Have snow shovels and de-icing materials available and ready to remove snow and/or ice from sidewalks adjacent to your property by 10 am the morning after a snow fall.   
  • Help others in need. Snow and ice on the sidewalk can be a barrier for many people, particularly seniors and people with mobility challenges. Consider volunteering as a snow angel to help others when it snows. 
  • Be safe, be seen. In darker, wet weather, visibility is limited and changing conditions can make it harder to travel. Dress for the weather, including wearing proper footwear, lights and reflective gear and make eye contact with other road users. 
  • Look for alternatives to driving during winter weather conditions. If you must drive, take care, watch out for pedestrians, be prepared with winter tires and allow more time for travel. Snowplows move slower than regular traffic, so if you are travelling near one, please be patient and give them space to do their work. 
  • Avoid over-salting. Excess road salt damages vehicles and infrastructure, harms our pets and plants and degrades waterways. Learn about sustainable salt use. 
  • Keep catch basins clear of snow and ice to prevent flooding. If your local catch basin is blocked, break up and remove any built-up ice. If it’s still blocked, report it by calling 3-1-1 or via the Van311 app. Consider adopting a catch basin in your neighbourhood to help keep it clear all year long.