TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced plans to visit areas severely impacted by prolonged power outages following a powerful ice storm that struck central and northern Ontario over the weekend of March 29-30, 2025. As of late Thursday afternoon, April 3, 2025, Hydro One reported that approximately 175,000 customers remained without power, with nearly 45,000 losing electricity within the previous 24 hours due to high winds affecting central and eastern parts of the province.
The ice storm caused extensive damage in cities such as Orillia and Peterborough, and a subsequent storm system that moved through parts of Ontario on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, exacerbated the situation, causing additional outages and hampering restoration efforts. Hydro One stated that over 85% of nearly one million affected customers have had their power restored, but there is still considerable work ahead.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Ford told reporters at Queen’s Park on Thursday morning. “We’re working full out again; we have the teams out there from emergency management, the Ontario Corps, warming centres, foods brought in.” His office confirmed that he would be visiting the storm command centre in Orillia on Friday, April 4, 2025.
In a show of solidarity, the governments of Quebec and Saskatchewan have sent hydro crews to assist with the restoration efforts. Hydro One described this storm as the most severe weather event the utility has faced since the ice storm of 1998. Currently, 3,800 Hydro One workers, contractors, and other personnel are engaged in restoring power, with most customers expected to have their electricity back by the weekend of April 5-6, 2025.
“For remote areas, including customers who can only be reached by water, restoration may take longer,” the utility warned. Road access remains a challenge in the hardest-hit regions, along with safety concerns regarding falling tree branches and limbs.
Ford emphasized the need for effective communication in areas where residents lack access to information and online resources. “When someone’s internet is down and televisions are down, we have to come up with a new mechanism to communicate because it’s very difficult to communicate when people don’t have the ability to watch television,” he said.
Provincial police have been urging non-locals to avoid the affected areas until storm cleanup is under control. On Thursday, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) reported that a hydro worker in the Peterborough area was threatened by a driver frustrated by the prolonged outages. “The Peterborough County OPP understand that area residents still experiencing power outages are feeling frustrated and upset but remind individuals that making threats can be considered a criminal offence and will not be tolerated,” police stated in a news release.
In the early hours of Thursday morning, parts of southern Ontario were hit by another round of wild spring weather, with thunderstorms dumping as much as 75 millimetres of rain in the Greater Toronto Area. The OPP advised drivers to exercise caution as flooding was reported on highways throughout the region, and Peel Region police confirmed that some roads near Highway 407 in Brampton and Mississauga were closed due to flooding.
The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority also cautioned the public about potential localized ponding and rising water levels due to the rainfall, in addition to melting snow and ice. Meanwhile, parts of Quebec were under a freezing rain warning on Thursday, with a possible accumulation of two to four millimetres of ice. Hydro-Quebec reported that roughly 18,000 customers were without power as of Thursday evening.
As the situation remains critical, the City of Orillia is also addressing the immediate needs of its residents. As of the evening of April 2, 2025, it marked the fifth night without power for upwards of 35,000 people in Orillia and surrounding townships. With temperatures expected to drop, city officials are warning about the risk of hypothermia, particularly for vulnerable populations including young children, older adults, and those with pre-existing health conditions.
“With homes getting colder with the drop in temperature, the risk of hypothermia is real and serious,” said Orillia Mayor Don McIsaac in a news release. “We are urging residents to take this seriously and seek warmth before symptoms set in, whether it’s by going to a friend or family member’s home with power, or using the city’s relief centre at the Orillia Recreation Centre.”
The relief centre, located at 255 West St. S., will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and overnight guests must register by 9 p.m. to stay overnight. The centre provides a warm, safe space, charging stations (with priority for medical devices), access to restrooms, and light refreshments. The OPP is providing security around the clock, and a paramedic is on site 24/7.
Residents needing transportation to the facility can book a ride through the OWLS Transit Service by calling 249-385-6762 between 8:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. Advance booking is required, and rides are subject to availability. City officials are also advising residents against using outdoor heat sources indoors, warning that devices like barbecues, propane heaters, camping stoves, or gas generators can produce carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas that can be fatal.
For those using candles for light or warmth, city officials advise keeping them away from flammable materials and never leaving them unattended. The city is working with 211 Ontario to help residents access up-to-date information and available support resources during this ongoing emergency. Residents are encouraged to call 211 for non-emergency inquiries related to shelter, food access, wellness checks, and other community services. The 211 service is available 24/7 and connects callers with trained professionals who can guide them to the appropriate local supports.
The city will continue to monitor impacts and provide timely updates on service disruptions, road conditions, and public safety through orillia.ca and the city’s official social media channels.
