Winter Storm Forces School Closures And Delays

It was a Monday morning that demanded a second cup of coffee for many families across southeastern New Brunswick and Ontario’s Upper Grand District: January 19, 2026, brought with it a fresh round of school closures and bus delays, as winter’s grip tightened its hold on much of eastern Canada. For parents, students, and educators, the day unfolded in a patchwork of cancellations, delays, and last-minute adjustments, all dictated by the unpredictable whims of winter weather.

According to local news reports, the southeastern corner of New Brunswick woke up to a slew of cancellations and delays. The Anglophone East School District, which serves a wide swath of communities from Moncton to Petitcodiac, announced that several of its schools would remain shuttered for the day due to treacherous road conditions. Among the affected were Caledonia Regional High, Dorchester Consolidated, Hillsborough Elementary, Marshview Middle, Port Elgin, Riverside Consolidated, Salem Elementary, and Tantramar Regional High. For families in these communities, the morning routine turned on a dime, with students swapping backpacks for blankets and parents recalibrating their work-from-home strategies.

Despite the closures, not all was lost for the region’s students. The district confirmed that all other schools in Anglophone East would open on time, offering a semblance of normalcy amid the chaos. But even for those heading to open schools, getting there was not business as usual. School buses serving Moncton, Riverview, Dieppe, Shediac, Salisbury, and Petitcodiac were running on a one-hour delay. The extra wait meant more time to bundle up, but also more time for roads to be cleared and salted—an essential precaution, given the icy conditions that prompted the delays in the first place.

The Francophone South School District, serving communities such as Shediac, Grande Digue, Grand Barachois, Cap Pelé, Moncton, Dieppe, and Memramcook, faced similar challenges. School buses in these areas were also delayed by one hour, though schools themselves opened on schedule. For many parents, the staggered transportation meant a juggling act between work commitments and ensuring their children made it safely to school. Still, the district’s decision to keep schools open, but delay bus service, reflected a careful balance between educational continuity and safety.

Meanwhile, hundreds of kilometers to the west, the Upper Grand District School Board in Ontario was grappling with its own weather-induced disruptions. Early that morning, the board announced that all schools and offices in Division 3—covering North Wellington—would be closed for the day due to inclement weather. The decision, posted on the board’s official channels, was both a relief and a headache for local families. For some, it provided a much-needed safety net; for others, it meant scrambling to find childcare or rearrange work schedules at the last minute.

The impact didn’t stop at Division 3. School vehicles—buses and vans—in Divisions 2 (Centre Wellington, Town of Erin, Town of Rockwood), 3 (North Wellington), and 4 (Dufferin County and Robert F. Hall) were all taken off the roads for the day. The move, intended to keep students and drivers out of harm’s way, underscored the severity of the weather. According to the Upper Grand District School Board, “Schools remain open for student learning in divisions 1, 2, and 4,” but only Division 1 school buses were operational. For those living in affected areas, the lack of transportation presented a significant hurdle, with many families forced to make difficult decisions about attendance versus safety.

On the ground, the atmosphere was a mix of frustration, resignation, and—at least for some students—a touch of joy. Snow days have long held a special place in the Canadian psyche, offering a rare break from the routine and a chance to revel in the simple pleasures of winter. But for working parents, especially those without the flexibility to stay home, the closures and delays brought stress and uncertainty. Social media channels lit up with questions, updates, and the inevitable memes—some poking fun at the weather, others venting about the challenges of last-minute changes.

For school administrators, the process of deciding whether to close schools or delay buses is far from simple. It involves early-morning consultations with municipal road crews, meteorologists, and transportation providers. Safety is always the guiding principle, but so too is the recognition that every closure or delay ripples out to affect thousands of families. As one district official explained in a statement, “Our priority is always the safety of students and staff. Decisions are made with the best information available, but we know these choices have a real impact on our communities.”

Local weather experts noted that the conditions on January 19 were particularly challenging. Freezing rain overnight had left many secondary roads slick and hazardous, while drifting snow reduced visibility and made plowing efforts difficult. In some areas, the forecast called for continued precipitation throughout the morning, making it nearly impossible to guarantee safe passage for buses and vehicles. For school boards, the risk was simply too great to ignore.

While many students relished the unexpected day off, educators and administrators were already thinking ahead to the logistical headaches that would follow. Missed instructional time often means rearranged lesson plans, rescheduled tests, and in some cases, extended school years. For high school students, especially those preparing for midterms or provincial exams, every day counts. Some districts have invested in remote learning platforms to bridge the gap during weather-related closures, but not all families have reliable access to the necessary technology or internet connections.

The events of January 19, 2026, serve as a reminder of the delicate balance between safety and continuity in Canada’s education system. Winter is a fact of life in much of the country, and school boards have long experience navigating its challenges. Still, each storm brings its own set of variables, and no two days are ever quite the same. For now, families in southeastern New Brunswick and Ontario’s Upper Grand region will be keeping a close eye on the forecast—and hoping for a smoother start to the week ahead.

As the snow settles and roads are cleared, communities will once again adjust, proving their resilience in the face of winter’s unpredictability. The hope, as always, is for safe travels and a swift return to the routines that anchor daily life.