Building evacuated after pepper spray discharged at west London, Ont. high school

Students and staff at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in London, Ont. were evacuated after pepper spray was discharged in the school on Jan. 9, 2026. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)

Students and staff at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in west London were evacuated from the building Friday afternoon after a noxious substance was discharged.

CTV News has learned pepper spray was discharged into a small area which then made its way into the building’s HVAC system.

The HVAC system was shut down after staff detected an unusual odour.

Students and staff were sent out as a precaution until the fire department gave the all-clear.