Widespread school bus cancellations as freezing rain hits Southern Ontario

Snow-covered school buses sit in a lot. (FILE)

A yellow weather warning for freezing rain has triggered large-scale school transportation cancellations across multiple Ontario regions Tuesday morning.

While schools remain open, thousands of students are affected by suspended bus, van, taxi, and minivan services due to hazardous road conditions.

What’s cancelled

Simcoe County

• All school buses and vans cancelled
• Decision made by the Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium
• Applies to the entire school day
• Schools remain open for in-person learning

Trillium Lakelands District School Board

• All school vehicles cancelled in Zone 4 and Zone 5
• Includes buses serving: St. John Paul Catholic ES, St. Dominic Catholic ES, St. Mary’s Catholic ES, St. Luke Catholic ES, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic SS
• Cancellations apply only to transportation; schools are open

York Region and York Catholic District School Boards

• All buses, minivans, and taxis cancelled
• Announced by Student Transportation Services of York Region
• Covers all transportation services for the day
• Schools remain open

Environment Canada is forecasting several hours of freezing rain, with 1 to 5 millimetres ice accretion possible.

Roads and walkways are expected to become icy and slippery, with conditions difficult to detect. Transportation authorities state student safety and poor driving conditions as the primary reasons for cancellations.