Multiple GTHA schools, services closed after overnight snowstorm

Multiple school boards and services in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area are closed after a snowstorm hit Ontario Wednesday night.

Areas of the province saw 15 to 40 centimetres of snow and frozen rain overnight as a snowstorm blew through much of the country, leaving the roads full of ice and snow.

OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt reminds drivers to take it slow on the road.

In a video posted on X just after 5:30 a.m., he said for drivers to try to stay home if they don’t need to travel and allow first responders to deal with the roads first.

The plows are working to clear the roads, the snow continues to fall. Please help the snow clearing operations by staying off the roads. #OnStorm ^ks pic.twitter.com/IJSzK5rRCM

— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) February 13, 2025

Schools and school boards cancelling classes for a snow day

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board has closed all schools, administrative buildings and all workspaces, including the Education Centre, Thursday.

They have also cancelled transportation programs and both in-person and remote childcare and evening permits have been cancelled as well.

The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board has closed all schools, adult education centres, school-based childcare centres and community use of schools Thursday.

Student transportation has also been cancelled, and the board says teachers will provide learning materials online.

The Grand Erie District School Board, Brand Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board and the French Catholic School Board have closed their schools, and cancelled all transportation services served through the Student Transportation Services Brant Haldimand Norfolk.

The Halton District School Board and the Halton Catholic District School Board have closed all schools, and administrative centres are also closed. Student transportation services are also cancelled.

McMaster University is closed, with all scheduled classes, labs, studios and events – both in-person and remote – cancelled.

All Mohawk College campuses will be closed, with all in-person classes and events cancelled. Virtual classes and events will continue as scheduled.

All Niagara College campuses will be closed, with all in-person classes and academic activities at Welland and Daniel J. Patterson campuses on Niagara-on-the-Lake cancelled as well.

Mohawk and Ernest Community Participation programs are closed.

The University of Guelph and Wilfrid Laurier University are also closed.

School boards that are keeping their doors open

The District School Board of Niagara are keeping their schools open Thursday, but all student transportation has been cancelled.

Niagara Catholic District School Board schools will also be open.

Businesses and services schedules changed due to inclement weather

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum will be closed.

The City of Hamilton’s City Hall, Municipal Service Centres and all administrative offices and facilities are closed.

All De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre locations in Hamilton, Brantford and Niagara are closed. Virtual services are still available.

Hamilton Street Railway services will operate as scheduled, with delays to be expected.

DARTS will continue to operate.

The City of Hamilton’s early morning swimming programs are cancelled the following pools:

• Dundas Community Pool
• H.G. Brewster Pool
• Huntington Park Recreation Centre
• Sir Allan MacNab Recreation Centre
• Ancaster Aquatics Centre

Recreation centres, senior centres, arenas and golf facilities will open at 9 a.m.

Garbage pick-up services are still running Thursday.

All Hamilton Public Library locations will be closed.

Scheduled Bookmobile visits are also cancelled.

The City of Burlington’s recreation facilities will be closed until noon, with city-registered and drop-in programming resuming at noon.

The Rotary Centennial Pond at Spencer Smith Park will be closed.

Niagara Falls city facilities remain open to the public.

MacBain Community Centre programming is cancelled for the morning only, with the situation being reassessed in the afternoon.

Public transportation schedule changes

For those who rely on the GO train, the Lakeshore West Line express trains will make stops at all stations.

Trips that start and end at Oakville are cancelled Thursday but all train stops are still available.

This is a developing news story, more to come.

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