School buses running in Ottawa region, but some Gatineau schools closed due to power outages

A yellow school bus in Ottawa is seen in this undated photo. (Dave Charbonneau/CTV News Ottawa)

School buses are running across eastern Ontario and western Quebec on Thursday after a day of cancellations caused by freezing rain, but some schools in the Outaouais region are closed due to ongoing power outages.

The orange-level freezing rain warning that was in effect Wednesday was lifted overnight.

School bus authorities across the region say buses are running, but there could be delays or isolated cancellations, depending on the route.

“A weather assessment was conducted this morning (Thursday, March 12, 2026). Please be advised that school bus/van transportation will be running today for the English Catholic and Public Schools and the French Catholic and Public Schools, operating within the City of Ottawa. However, there may be delays,” the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority said on its website.

Some delays and cancellations have been reported by Student Transportation of Eastern Ontario, serving the Upper Canada District School Board and the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario. The Renfrew County Joint Transportation Consortium is also reporting some cancellations on bus service to the Renfrew County District School Board and the Renfrew County Catholic District School Board.

“Our bus companies are encountering challenging road conditions (icy, downed branches/trees, downed power lines) in the Madawaska Area this morning. Some roads will not be able to be serviced and there will be delays throughout,” the RCJTC said in a statement on social media Thursday morning.

“Companies are attempting to contact impacted families but power outages are making that difficult. Please dress warmly and only wait a reasonable amount of time for your school bus then return home. If your power is out or there is not reliable cell service we may be unable to reach you.”

Gatineau school closures

Some schools are closed in Gatineau and western Quebec because of power outages.

According to Hydro Quebec, more than 20,000 customers in Gatineau, and another 9,000 customers elsewhere in the Outaouais remain without power Thursday morning after the storm.

The Centre de services scolaire au Cœur-des-Vallées says the following institutions are closed:

• École aux Quatre-Vents (Gatineau)
• École des Grands-Pins (L’Ange-Gardien)
• École du Sacré-Cœur (Gatineau)
• École Monseigneur Charbonneau (Gatineau)
• École Saint-Michel (Gatineau)
• École Secondaire Hormisdas-Gamelin (Gatineau)
• Centre de formation générale adulte la Cité
• Centre de formation professionnelle Innovation Outaouais – Pavillon Gatineau
• Centre administratif
• Pavillon 121 Trésors

The Centre de services scolaire des Draveurs says all schools, childcare services, school transport, and administrative services are closed Thursday.

Pavillon Sainte-Marie in Otter Lake is closed Thursday, according to the Centre de services scolaire des Hauts Bois de l’Outaouais. All other schools are open and buses are running normally.

The Centre de services scolaire des Portages de l’Outaouais says all schools are open.

In the Western Quebec School Board, classes at Buckingham Elementary, Dr. W. Keon School and Namur Intermediate School (as well as daycare services) are cancelled for the day. All other schools and adult/vocational centers, daycare services, and transportation are operating normally; however, school transportation in Val-d’Or is delayed by four hours, the school board says.

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