Hundreds stuck on Burnaby Mountain after SFU cancels exams

Snow leaves hundreds stranded on Burnaby Mountain There were massive crowds of students trapped at SFU for hours Friday as TransLink's articulated buses were unable to access the campus.

There were hundreds of students trapped on Burnaby Mountain Friday after Simon Fraser University abruptly cancelled final exams.

Administrators announced snowy conditions were forcing them to close the campus and cancel all remaining exams shortly before 3 p.m., giving many students roughly half an hour's notice.

That sent a massive crowd of people heading to the bus loops. Unfortunately, TransLink was grappling with the same wintery weather causing delays and detours on many of its routes, including the buses to SFU.

One student, Julia Lewis, said she was left stranded on the mountain for hours, grumbling about the university's last-minute cancellation.

"I'm so unimpressed with Simon Fraser. Anyone can see that it's snowing outside," Lewis told CTV News. "When they cancelled previously on Monday, I got a text at like 7:30 in the morning."

The student, who was scheduled to write the last exam of her bachelor's degree at 3:30 p.m., described the scene on campus as a crowded, disorganized mess.

"People are being misdirected constantly. I was at one bus loop, they told me to go to the other bus loop, now some people are being told to go back to the first bus loop," she said.

SFU's registrar confirmed there were 1,800 students writing exams when the campus closure was announced, and thousands more were studying for other finals scheduled later in the afternoon and evening.

TransLink said service was suspended on its 145 bus and that the 135 was stopping at Hastings and Willingdon streets, but said several shuttles were heading up and down Burnaby Mountain to take students home.

The university urged students not to attempt walking down the mountain, but offered anyone who is stranded free meals and drinks in the dining hall.

It said cancelled exams will likely be rescheduled for the first day after the end of the exam schedule, on Dec. 19.

Check the latest on snowstorm-related transit delays on the TransLink website here.