In Southern Ontario, a massive winter storm is anticipated to affect the area significantly, resulting in the closure of thousands of schools on Monday. The forecast predicts that Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) will receive approximately 60 cm of snow, prompting authorities to take precautionary measures to ensure the safety of students and staff.
Due to these extreme weather conditions, many secondary schools have opted to reschedule their final exams to January 29. This decision reflects the seriousness of the storm and aims to minimize disruptions for students preparing for their exams.
The closures will encompass various school boards across different regions. In the City of Toronto, both the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board announced the closure of all schools for Monday. This aligns with similar decisions taken by school boards in surrounding regions to secure the wellbeing of their students during the storm.
York Region is similarly affected, with both the York Region District School Board and the York Region Catholic District School Board declaring all schools closed on Monday. Furthermore, in Peel Region, all educational institutions under the Peel District School Board and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board will also remain closed.
In Durham Region, the situation is consistent, as the Durham District School Board and the Durham Catholic District School Board have issued closures for all their schools as well. In Halton Region, both the Halton District School Board and the Halton Catholic District School Board have confirmed that all schools will be closed on Monday.
Regarding post-secondary institutions, the situation is varied. The University of Toronto will have its St. George campus open, while both the Mississauga and Scarborough campuses will be closed on Monday. Meanwhile, the Toronto Metropolitan University has decided to close its Toronto and Brampton campuses for the day. York University has announced closures for its morning and afternoon classes, with a decision regarding evening classes still pending.
Other institutions such as McMaster University are set to provide updates later in the morning, while several colleges, including Humber College, George Brown College, and Centennial College, will also have closures on Monday. Sheridan College is expected to release an update regarding its operations by 6:30 a.m. Seneca College, however, is scheduled to remain open on Monday.
Several other educational establishments are also closing their doors, including St. Michael’s College School and Tyndale University. Additionally, schools under the Conseil scolaire Mon Avenir are closed in multiple regions including Toronto, Peel, Halton, York, Durham, and Peterborough. The Conseil scolaire Viamonde has also followed suit, closing its schools in areas like Niagara, Hamilton, and Guelph, among others.
This situation is highly dynamic, and communities are urged to stay updated as weather conditions develop. Safety remains the priority for both parents and educational authorities given the significant impact of the impending storm.
