Last week in Toronto the heat was blanketing us from the sky and frying us on the pavement. It was almost unbearable. But our city does provide ways to cope and Peter and I took advantage of them. We hope you did too!

On the first hot day we went to an air-conditioned public building. There are many of them in Toronto: theatres, libraries, museums, arcades, galleries and more. We chose the Rogers Centre. To be honest, we didn’t know it had AC and we took sunscreen, hats and big water bottles in preparation for a hot afternoon with the Blue Jays.

When we arrived, the roof was closed. We thought that at least we could avoid the direct sun and we’d just have to suffer through recirculating stuffy air and human odors. Not pleasant but maybe OK for a few innings. But when we walked in, the entire place was cool! Who knew? We spent a lovely afternoon cheering for the Jays even though they were losing, and enjoying the perfect temperature. We stayed for the entire game.

On the second hot day, we voted for Lake Ontario. We took a cruise along the harbour and through the islands. A buffet lunch was served inside, with all the windows open to let in the cool breeze. The decks provided scenic views and a wind that was actually chilly. It was such a relief.

Torontonians are very lucky to have this natural cooling feature so close by. Even if there is no cruise available, there are beaches with lots of shade trees and places to walk along the shore cooling your feet. You might even find an ice cream shack if you look closely. And swimming is an option for the brave-hearted.

On the last day of the big heat wave, we were running out of supplies. So we went to an air-conditioned bank. Then we went to our local Canadian No Frills which is so cold I usually take a sweater. Next we visited a drug store, also air-conditioned. Finally we went to the comfortably cool LCBO and bought some Bud Zero, delicious on a hot summer day.

I was all set to go home but Peter had one more stop in mind – Sunnyland. Now I know that Sunnyland, a small fruit and veggie store, is not air-conditioned. But it is Peter’s happy place. How could I say no? We walked the extra blocks and stepped inside. While Peter was shopping I looked for a cool place to wait. First I tried climbing into the fridge holding the dairy products. But it was a tight fit. Then I had a better idea. I rushed over to the vegetable stands and leaned under the water pipes that were misting the produce. Ah – heaven! By the time Peter was ready to leave, I was drenched. It was perfect.

Today, Canada Day, is not supposed to be so hot. Enjoy the day as we celebrate our great country of many climates.

Sue