On March 6, 2025, harsh weather conditions swept across Ontario, leading to multiple cancellations of school bus services and affecting both public and Catholic school boards throughout the region. Heavy snowfall and freezing rain prompted authorities to issue travel advisories, indicating hazardous road conditions.
Heavy snowfall is forcing schools across central Ontario to cancel bus services, impacting students' daily transportation. Reports from CTV News state, "Heavy snowfall is forcing schools across central Ontario to cancel bus services." The adverse weather has led to multiple boards taking precautionary measures to protect student safety.
According to the Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium, all buses and vans servicing the area have been cancelled due to freezing rain, ice accretion, and icy road conditions throughout the school day. "All buses and vans in Simcoe County have been cancelled due to freezing rain, ice accretion and icy road conditions throughout the school day," the consortium reported. Even with these cancellations, schools within the Simcoe region remain open for student learning.
The radical weather shift also hit other parts of Ontario. The Avon Maitland Public and Huron-Perth Catholic schools reported multiple cancellations earlier today. Specific details can be found by visiting the link for more alerts.
Bluewater Public and Bruce-Grey Catholic schools are similarly affected, indicating additional bus and transportation cancellations, once again cited at their dedicated notification platforms online.
Transportation services from the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board to schools such as St. Andrew, St. Peter, St. Benedict, and R.F. Hall were cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. St. Andrew, St. Peter, and St. Benedict schools are closed to students and staff today, leading to significant disruption for families. R.F. Hall is operational, but it is notable how many other local schools are unserviceable due to travel issues.
Meanwhile, Durham Region's school transportation was also cancelled for Zones 1, 2, and 3. This includes school vehicles bound for the Brock area, Uxbridge area, and Scugog area. Despite these cancellations, all associated schools remain open for student learning. The situation epitomizes the challenges schools face amid seasonal shifts.
The Wellington-Dufferin Student Transportation Services echoed similar cancellations, stating all school taxis and buses were cancelled for Zones 2, 3, and 4. Many schools were closed to students, including schools overarching several school boards within these zones.
Environment and Climate Change Canada issued warnings earlier today, which included predictions of rapid temperature drops below freezing. The agency stated, "Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a winter weather travel advisory on March 6, 2025, stating temperatures are expected to drop rapidly below freezing," shedding light on the perilous conditions attributed to the winter blast.
Simcoe County was particularly hard hit, with all school vehicles cancelled today due to unsafe conditions. The freezing rain has made roadways treacherous, prompting the need for authorities to act and put safety first. Parents and guardians are advised to check for updates regularly as the situation evolves.
Other regions across Southern Ontario, including Renfrew County Public, also announced cancellations of transportation services today. Areas like Zone 1 (Deep River), Zone 4 (Madawaska), and Zone 5 (Cobden, Douglas and Eganville) faced such cancellations, illustrating the extensive impact of today's weather across different school boards.
Lastly, the Trillium Lakelands district experienced cancellations, leading to the closure of schools due to the serious weather. All buses were remarked as cancelled, showing the breadth of disruption caused by this late winter weather.
While numerous school buses remain off the road, affecting students' daily routines, many local schools are still operating. Parents and guardians are encouraged to stay informed as conditions remain volatile, and updates from school boards are highly recommended.