In solidarity with ACORN affiliates around the globe ACORN Canada leaders and members took to the streets, phones and 2  splash-pads to demand protections to Beat the Heat!

It was a day to protect workers and tenants from the escalating climate crisis and massive health and life- threatening impacts of heat! 

In 41 cities across the planet we stood strong demanding action.

Keep the Momentum Going!

Sign/share the online actions below to keep up the pressure!

• NATIONAL: Send a message to Prime Minister Mark Carney, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson, and your local MP today! 
• ONTARIO:  send a quick email to Premier Doug Ford, the Minister of Energy, and your local MPP!
• BRITISH COLUMBIA: Your voice will automatically send a letter directly to Premier David Eby, Minister Adrian Dix, Minister Christine Boyle, and BC Hydro CEO Charlotte Mitha!
• ALBERTA: Send a message to Calgary’s Mayor and your City Council representative to demand urgent action on maximum heat protections.
• NOVA SCOTIA: Sign the action and tell the province: Stop the rate hikes. Put people first.
• NEW BRUNSWICK: We’re calling on Premier Susan Holt, Energy Minister René Legacy, and the NB government for AC for ALL!

CLICK HERE to download and print out this flyer! Help us spread the word about the health risks of extreme heat and the urgent need for government action.

Local Action Summaries

New Brunswick

Fredericton

NB ACORN is no slouch! Fredericton gathered at the Wilmot Splash pad to make it known: our whole province needs cooling sites!

With NO designated cooling anywhere in province, landlords who can prevent tenants from accessing cooling in their homes, and the ever-increasing cost of power, we know that action is needed NOW to protect our communities from the summer.

ACORN NB ne reste pas les bras croisés ! Les membres de Fredericton se sont rassemblés au Wilmot Splash Pad pour faire passer le message : notre province entière a besoin de sites de rafraîchissement.

Avec AUCUNE zone de rafraîchissement désignée dans la province, des propriétaires qui peuvent empêcher leurs locataires d’accéder à des moyens de rafraîchissement dans leur logement, et le coût de l’électricité qui grimpe sans cesse, on sait qu’il faut agir MAINTENANT pour protéger nos communautés face à la chaleur estivale.

Moncton

Moncton ACORN got together to say: we need cooling, TODAY! Despite the heat, members gathered downtown, handing out freezies and sharing their stories. With this year’s extremely humid days and temperatures above 30°C, our vulnerable neighbours are suffering more than ever. Members talked about the need to stay safe and know the signs of heat stroke and heat exhaustion, as well as the need for cooling centres in the city.

Moncton ACORN s’organize pour dire : on a besoin de fraîcheur, AUJOURD’HUI ! Malgré la chaleur, nos membres se sont rassemblés au centre-ville pour distribuer des freezies et partager leurs histoires. Avec ces journées extrêmement humides et ces températures au-dessus de 30°C, nos voisins les plus vulnérables souffrent plus que jamais. Les membres ont évoqué la nécessité de veiller à sa sécurité et de connaître les symptômes du coup de chaleur et de l’épuisement dû à la chaleur, ainsi que la nécessité de d’avoir de centres de rafraîchissement dans la ville

Province-Wide

New Brunswick says: cooling for all! As the heat spikes, so do the dangers it presents to our communities.

With landlords having the power to prevent their tenants from having suitable home cooling, the reality that our homes are not designed for this weather gets clearer every year. If people can’t afford to cool their homes, to buy their own ACs, or just aren’t allowed to, where does that leave us?

New Brunswick has no dedicated low-income energy rebate program to help those who struggle the most, no energy retrofit programs for low-income rental units which would lower their bills, very little in terms of NB Power debt forgiveness, and NO policy to ensure access to cooling for all. There are no dedicated, free cooling centres in New Brunswick.

That’s why NB ACORN is getting organized, and pushing for change!

Le Nouveau-Brunswick dit : « Du rafraîchissement pour tous ! » Lorsque la chaleur s’intensifient, les dangers qu’elle présente pour nos communautés s’intensifient aussi.

Les propriétaires ont le pouvoir d’empêcher leurs locataires de climatiser leur logement, et le fait que nos logements ne sont pas faits pour ces températures devient de plus en plus évident chaque année. Si les gens n’ont pas les moyens de climatiser leur logement, d’acheter leur propre climatiseur, ou s’ils n’en ont simplement pas le droit, à quoi bon ?

Le Nouveau-Brunswick n’a pas de programme dédié de remboursement des factures d’énergie destiné aux personnes à faibles revenus pour aider celles qui sont le plus en difficulté, pas de programmes de rénovation énergétique pour les logements locatifs à faibles revenus qui permettraient de réduire les factures, très peu de mesures en termes d’annulation de dettes auprès d’Énergie NB, et AUCUNE politique visant à garantir l’accès à la climatisation pour tous. Il n’existe AUCUN centre dédié et gratuit de rafraîchissement au Nouveau-Brunswick.

C’est pourquoi ACORN NB se mobilise et lutte pour le changement !

CLICK HERE for the phone script and #s to keep calling!

Nova Scotia

Halifax

Nova Scotia ACORN members Beat the Heat today at the Halifax Commons Splash Pad, where around 20 members gathered under the blazing sun to demand action on the growing threat of extreme heat. As temperatures rise and power bills keep climbing, we’re calling on the Houston government to create a province-wide maximum indoor temperature limit, ban landlords from prohibiting air conditioners in rental housing, and fully fund ACORN’s Fair Energy Platform—including energy rebates, cooling subsidies, debt forgiveness, and energy retrofits that don’t lead to renovictions or rent hikes.

Our action came just days after a power outage left thousands of Nova Scotians without electricity on one of the hottest nights of the summer, a stark reminder that extreme heat can quickly become dangerous when people can’t afford or access cooling. Nova Scotians already pay some of the highest electricity rates in the country, yet we’re still dealing with outages that leave people without the power they rely on to stay safe. Members shared their stories, led chants like “Heat kills! We know why! Power bills are way too high!”, and even staged a “die-in” to show the deadly consequences of inaction. We also got great media attention, with Peninsula ACORN Chair Darryl King speaking live on CBC Radio Cape Breton before the action, and ACORN leaders Chris Salmeron and Miriam Williams speaking with CBC Nova Scotia at the rally.

Afterward, we hit the surrounding neighbourhood with petitions for our Fair Energy campaign and handed out popsicles to help people cool down, collecting dozens of signatures from people who agree it’s time for change. The message was clear: access to cooling is a human right, and we’ll keep organizing until everyone has a safe, affordable way to beat the heat.

Ontario

Toronto

Under orange skies filled with wildfire smoke, during a yellow heat advisory and some of the worst air quality on Earth, Toronto ACORN members marched down University Avenue. The march surged up to the 16th floor of the tower housing the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), where members hand‑delivered a bold demand letter—and secured a promise from IESO to follow up.

Our demands are clear and urgent:

• IESO match the City of Toronto’s funding for the Air Conditioner Assistance Program to get free ACs to low‑income tenants.
• Expand the Ontario Electricity Support Program to cover the AC surcharges landlords can now pass on thanks to Doug Ford’s Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023.

This action sends a powerful message: tenants deserve protection from deadly heat. Want to join the fight? Contact Toronto ACORN at 416‑461‑9233 or [email protected]. 

Ottawa

Ottawa ACORN members are at city hall today in anticipation of an all-day council meeting where councillors will vote on a much needed renoviction bylaw. BUT two cars full of members still managed a pit stop at the Ottawa Hydro HQ on Hunt Club to deliver a letter requesting a meeting with the CEO & leadership team.

While ACORN and allies won $100K in the city’s budget for a pilot program that will provide 200 AC units to low-income tenants, we know this is just a drop in the bucket! ACORN is calling on Ottawa Hydro to partner with the city to expand (and make permanent) the local AC benefit and join ACORN’s provincial efforts demanding Doug Ford step up the plate and fund a province-wide air conditioning program. The BC govt & BC Hydro provided 8,000 AC units. How many has Ontario given? ZERO.  

Hamilton

14 ACORN Hamilton members joined our beat the heat phone zap today! Led by downtown chair Marc, downtown secretary Pauline and Stoney Creek co-chair Taylor.

Leaders discussed the status of our campaign for a max heat bylaw campaign, went through what ACORN affiliates are working on to protect workers and tenants followed by a training on phone calls to elected officials. We made calls to Councillors and the Mayor’s office to support a strong max heat bylaw when the report comes back in September. Members also made calls to provincial targets in support of Ontario ACORN’s AC for all campaign. 

CLICK HERE for the phone script and #s to keep calling!

London

London ACORN hit the streets today for our Beat the Heat day of action! Led by members Sharon, Rob, Ken, Mike, and Alicia, 9 members turned out to deliver our AC for ALL demand letter to London Hydro.

The response was fantastic – London Hydro’s communications team came out to receive the letter and engage directly with members, noting they’ve seen ACORN’s AC for ALL actions popping up across cities. Ward 13 Councillor David Ferreira also stopped to show his support, chanting alongside members and handing out water bottles to help beat the heat!

CTV News was on the ground covering the action and interviewing members about why access to cooling is a matter of life and safety for low-income tenants. And with the smoky skies overhead today, it’s hard to imagine a more fitting backdrop for why this fight matters!! 

London ACORN will keep pushing until Doug Ford’s government follows BC’s lead and funds a province-wide air conditioning program. Enough is enough – AC for ALL!

Mississauga

Despite the poor air quality from the Ontario wildfires, Peel members showed up outside PC MPP & Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy, Rudy Cuzzetto,’s office to flyer and deliver our demand letter for AC for ALL. Members spoke to Metroland and The Pointer reporters about how extreme heat is putting low-income tenants at serious risk. Cuzzetto wasn’t in the office at the time, but his receptionist listened to what members had to say and accepted the letter on his behalf. We’re now awaiting a response to secure a meeting date so we can push these demands directly with his office. 

Kingston

Friends of ACORN, Seniors for Climate Action Now! (SCAN) hosted a press conference at Kingston City Hall to mark Extreme Heat Awareness Day. SCAN is calling on Kingston City council to advance a strong plan for a maximum temperature bylaw to protect tenants from extreme heat in rental units. This bylaw is critical to protecting tenants’ lives. Kingston already requires landlords to maintain minimum indoor temperatures during the winter. As pollution from burning fossil fuels makes heat waves
more dangerous, residents deserve the same protection from deadly indoor heat in the summer

Province-Wide

30 members from across the province participated on an #AC4ALL phone zap with CTV News from Kitchener capturing the whole thing. ACORN members called Premier Doug Ford, and the Ministers of Housing, Environment and Energy to demand the province fund an Ontario-wide program to provide low income and heat vulnerable tenants with energy efficient, air conditioners.

Highlight of the night was Carrie-Lynn from Sudbury connecting with a staff person while on speaker phone and sharing her personal experience living with no AC in a mold infested apartment with 70% humidity (oh – and wildfires!). The phone lines were flooded with many voicemails becoming full by the end of the night!

CLICK HERE for the phone script and #s to keep calling!

Alberta

Calgary

Calgary ACORN joined ACORN’s International Day of Action on Extreme Heat to continue pushing our Beat the Heat campaign! Members rallied at Eau Claire Plaza in downtown Calgary to collect petition signatures, share experiences of living in sweltering apartments, and spread the word about the urgent need for stronger protections from extreme indoor heat for renters.

We were joined by physicians from CAPE (Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment), highlighting the serious public health impacts of extreme heat. The event was covered by CBC and CTV as well as an interview with Global News Radio, to bring the voices of tenants to an even wider audience.

Calgary ACORN and Allies are calling for:

• A Maximum Heat Bylaw that caps rental unit temperatures at 26°C.
• Mandatory cooling spaces in apartment buildings until a bylaw comes into effect.
• Support programs to help low-income tenants access and operate air conditioning.
• Tracking of heat-related illnesses and deaths to better understand the impact of extreme heat on our communities.

British Columbia

Metro Vancouver

BC ACORN took the fight to the heart of Vancouver’s financial district, outside BC Hydro’s head office at 333 Dunsmuir, demanding a meeting with the CEO and Premier David Eby to discuss how the 619 deaths during the 2021 heat dome were preventable.

A small but determined contingent of ACORN’s brightest and best – joined by allies from STAND and CAPE – called on BC Hydro to go on the record and commit to prioritizing the electrification of tenant housing—because it will save lives and stop tenants from dying during extreme heat.

BC ACORN has launched a campaign that won’t stop until it’s won. If there is a $30 billion grid upgrade bonanza for private industry, along with electricity rates discounted by up to 66% for major industrial users, then working-class tenants are going to demand what is rightfully theirs.

ACORN leadership is demanding that the BC government and BC Hydro scrap the restrictive Free AC program—which relies on burdensome medical proof and excessive red tape—and replace it with fully funded building upgrades that guarantee safe, effective cooling. If BC can spend billions to electrify LNG projects and AI data centres, it can fund electrical upgrades for the residential buildings where hundreds of tenants died during the heat dome in 2021.