School closures and bus cancellations as big snow hits Toronto and area
Toronto wakes up to 20–30 cm of snow and widespread school and campus closures. Check your board or campus site for the latest on buses and remote plans.
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By Torontoer Staff
If you woke up to a snowy Toronto this morning, you’re not alone. Environment Canada bumped up an orange alert and warned the city could see 20 to 30 centimetres of snow — the heaviest of the season so far — with bitter wind chills that make the morning feel closer to -22 °C.
That’s led to widespread closures across the GTA: public school boards, student transportation and many university and college campuses have either shut down or moved classes online for the day. Here’s a quick, neighbourhood-friendly roundup so you know what’s closed and what to do next.
Who’s closed (and who’s still running)
Boards and campuses made decisions based on safety and local conditions. If your child takes a student bus, note that many transportation services are cancelled even where schools remain open.
- Toronto District School Board (TDSB) — All schools, child care centres and programs closed for the day.
- Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) — All schools, child care centres and programs closed for the day.
- Peel District School Board (PDSB) and Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB) — Schools closed across Peel.
- York Region — Schools impacted; check YRDSB/YCDSB alerts for specifics in Markham, Vaughan and surrounding areas.
- Durham District School Board — Schools open, but all school buses cancelled for morning and afternoon runs.
- Simcoe County District School Board — Schools open; buses cancelled across the system except in Muskoka.
- Halton District School Board and Halton Catholic District School Board — Schools closed and student transportation cancelled.
- Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board — Schools open; all student transportation cancelled.
- District School Board of Niagara — All schools closed for the day due to hazardous conditions.
Universities and colleges: many campuses shut or going remote
Several Toronto universities and colleges have closed campuses or suspended in-person classes. If you commute into the core from Scarborough, Etobicoke or the 905, double-check your campus portal before heading out.
- University of Toronto — St. George, Mississauga and Scarborough campuses fully closed.
- Toronto Metropolitan University — Main and Brampton campuses closed through the afternoon.
- York University — Classes suspended and campuses closed until further notice.
- OCAD University — In-person classes cancelled.
- George Brown College — Campuses closed; classes to move online where possible.
- Humber College (including U of Guelph-Humber) — Campuses closed for the day.
- Seneca Polytechnic — Campuses remain open but classes moving online where possible.
- Sheridan College — All campuses closed.
All schools, child care centres and other programs are closed due to the weather.
TDSB / TCDSB statements
Practical tips for families and commuters
If you’re juggling childcare, remote work and a snow-clearing routine in places like Roncesvalles, the Beaches or North York, a bit of planning goes a long way. Here are some quick, Toronto-tested moves:
- Confirm: Check your school board or campus website and your email/text alerts before leaving home — many updates came early this morning.
- Dress for the wind chill: Layers, warm boots, a hat and gloves are musts if you absolutely have to be outside. The morning wind chill is much colder than the thermometer shows.
- Plan transit: Student buses are widely cancelled; if you usually rely on them, make alternate arrangements. Only travel if necessary and allow extra time — side streets and residential hills (where many of us live in Bloorcourt or Forest Hill) can be slow.
- Work and learn remotely: If your workplace or school has moved online, use this as a stress-free day to catch up rather than dash out in risky conditions.
- Neighbourly care: Help elderly neighbours or those with limited mobility shovel paths and check that they have supplies and a charged phone.
Staying cosy at home (and keeping kids entertained)
If today became an unexpected snow day, lean into it. Make a hot chocolate station, bring out some board games or plan a short, supervised snow walk to build a mini city of snow forts in your front yard if conditions allow. For students whose classes moved online, create a quiet corner with chargers and headphones — small comforts help productivity.
And if you’re out shovelling in Trinity-Bellwoods or Cabbagetown, remember to take breaks and lift safely. Need local updates? Keep an eye on your board’s transportation pages, campus alerts and Environment Canada advisories as the storm progresses.
We’ll keep tracking changes through the day — check your school or campus site first, and stay warm out there, Toronto.
Toronto weatherschool closuressnowstormuniversitiesGTA
