August weather in Barrie, Ontario.

It’s August and the temperatures are scorching, and many people in Barrie are looking for a place to cool off.

As the sun shines and temperatures rise, those working outside have been looking for ways to beat the scorching heat.

“We just try to stay in the shade and take breaks when we can,” says Kevin Lawson, a landscape architect for Zone Group Landscaping.

Landscapers were just some of the many outdoor workers in Barrie who tried to beat the heat by starting the day earlier.

“We try to start at 6 a.m. and finish at 2 p.m. before the heat really hits, so we don’t get exposed to too much heat,” Lawson said.

At the Barrie waterfront, some people are cooling off by the water while others are hard at work. Ashlea Growcott is part of the team preparing for this weekend’s Kempenfest Festival. She says she’s not going to let the heat affect her team’s momentum.

“We have the same problem every year: it’s always hot this weekend, we hang in there, work hard and keep going,” Growcott said.

According to Environment Canada, the sun’s rays made for a scorching day outside, but temperatures didn’t reach levels high enough to trigger a heat warning. As a result, the City of Barrie did not open cooling centres, as temperatures must exceed 31 degrees for two consecutive days to trigger a warning.