School bus cancellations mark last day before winter break for students

Snow covers parked school buses in a lot in Barrie, Ont. (Rob Cooper/CTV News)

Mother Nature decided to throw a wrench into the last day of school before winter break with a mix of snow squalls, strong winds, and rapidly deteriorating road conditions on Friday, resulting in school bus cancellations in parts of the region.

Bus Cancellations

The Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium (SCSTC) says school buses are cancelled in Muskoka.

According to the SCSTC, school vehicles have been cancelled for students attending Monsignor Michael O’Leary Catholic Elementary School, St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary School in Huntsville, and St. Dominic Catholic Secondary School. Those schools fall under the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board.

SCSTC confirms all other buses in Simcoe County are running Friday.

School buses travelling into Meaford and Thornbury have also been cancelled. This affects transportation to Beaver Valley Community School and Georgian Bay Secondary School.

Meanwhile, Trillium Lakelands District School Board says all school vehicles have been cancelled in all zones for Friday. The board cites current road conditions and forecasts calling for deteriorating conditions throughout the school day. Despite the transportation cancellations, Trillium Lakelands says schools remain open.

In the City of Kawartha Lakes, transportation has also been cancelled to several Catholic schools, including St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary School, St. Dominic Catholic Elementary School, St. John Paul Catholic Elementary School, St. Luke Catholic Elementary School and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School.

School boards remind families that while buses are not running in affected areas, schools are open. Parents and guardians are encouraged to use their discretion when deciding whether students will attend school.

Weather Alert

Environment Canada has issued a yellow weather watch for snow squalls, warning of moderate impacts and high confidence in the forecast. The agency says lake-effect snow squalls off Lake Huron and Georgian Bay are expected throughout the day, bringing local snowfall amounts of 10 to 20 centimetres.

Reduced visibility from heavy snow and blowing snow is expected to be the main hazard, with visibility possibly dropping to near zero at times, particularly on open stretches of roadway.

A special weather statement is also in effect, warning of rapidly falling temperatures, icy road conditions and strong westerly winds gusting between 60 and 80 kilometres per hour.

Environment Canada says travel may become difficult, and localized power outages are possible.

Ontario Provincial Police are urging motorists to avoid non-essential travel, obey road closures and adjust driving to weather conditions.

Police also recommend reducing speed, keeping headlights on, maintaining safe following distances and ensuring vehicles are equipped with emergency supplies as conditions remain unpredictable.