MAXIMUM SCHOOL TEMPERATURES NOW
It’s time for Ontario to treat extreme heat in schools like the crisis it is.
Thanks to climate change, it’s becoming common for classrooms to reach over 30°C. Students can’t learn, teachers can’t teach, and children’s health is being put at risk.
The Premier has admitted its terrible, but offered no real action—saying only “we’ll look at it.”
Heat stroke and heat exhaustion are very real threats to students and staff, especially those in older schools and lower-income communities. We cannot continue to ignore the mounting evidence and expert recommendations. Just like we have minimum temperature limits, Ontario needs maximum temperature limits and heat strategy guidelines in classrooms and child care centres.
Add your name to tell the Minister of Education and Premier to develop and fund a comprehensive heat strategy including:
- A maximum indoor temperature standard for schools
- Retrofitting schools with air conditioners or heat pumps
- Building upgrades like insulation, energy-efficient windows, cool roofs, and exterior blinds
- Outdoor adaptations such as shade trees and permeable surfaces
- Passive cooling infrastructure including shade structures and misting stations
- Training and guidance for educators on recognizing and responding to heat stress