A major winter storm that hit Southern Ontario on Sunday has forced many school boards to close schools and cancel buses for Monday, January 26, 2026. In a lot of places, the decision isn’t only about “how much snow fell”—it’s also about road safety, plowing progress, bus-yard conditions, and how quickly emergency crews can keep routes open.
Below is a region-by-region list of confirmed closures (with key notes about child care and secondary exams), plus a quick guide on other reasons boards close even after the snow stops.
Why schools close “even if it’s not snowing anymore”
School boards often close for Monday after a Sunday storm because Monday morning is when the risks stack up:
- Snow clearing isn’t finished (especially on side streets, school driveways, and parking lots).
- Transit + school buses can’t run safely, or buses can’t even leave the yard.
- Visibility and drifting snow can make rural and highway routes unpredictable.
- Emergency services need road space (closures reduce traffic so plows and responders can work).
- Staff and student travel becomes high-risk, especially in areas with hills, open roads, and blowing snow.
- City “significant weather event / major snowstorm” declarations signal cleanup will take longer than normal.
What parents need to know for Monday?
- No buses usually means no before/after care in schools, even if some child care centres are independent operators.
- Permits and evening programs (community use, night school, continuing ed) are often cancelled with the closure.
- Secondary exam schedules are frequently pushed to a later day (many boards are moving Monday exams to Thursday, Jan. 29, but not all boards use the same plan).
- If your board mentions remote learning “where possible,” expect teachers to post work in the usual platform—but also expect disruptions (power, internet, staff access).
Closures by school board (Monday, Jan. 26)
Toronto
Toronto District School Board (TDSB): Schools/sites closed; child care in schools closed; permits cancelled.
Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB): Schools/sites closed; buses cancelled; child care, before/after programs, and permits cancelled. Secondary exams scheduled for Monday are rescheduled to Thursday, Jan. 29 (same times).
Peel Region
Peel District School Board (PDSB): Full system closure—schools/worksites closed; all buses cancelled (activities in schools, including many child care operations and permits, are typically cancelled).
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB): Schools and facilities closed; transportation cancelled. Secondary exams: board guidance indicates Monday exams move to a designated contingency day.
York Region
York Region District School Board (YRDSB): Schools/locations closed; transportation cancelled.
York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB): Schools closed; child care operators not running; exams rescheduled (board communications indicate shifts later in the week).
Durham Region
Durham District School Board (DDSB): Schools/worksites closed; child care and before/after care cancelled.
Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB): Schools/offices/buildings closed; transportation cancelled; before/after programs and many permits cancelled.
Halton Region
Halton District School Board (HDSB): Schools/workplaces closed; transportation cancelled; secondary exams cancelled and rescheduled (school-specific details to follow).
Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB): Schools closed due to inclement weather (board-wide closure posted).
Hamilton
Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB): Schools and workplaces closed; transportation cancelled; learning and child care cancelled; exams postponed and rescheduled.
Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB): Schools, adult ed, and child care closed; transportation and athletics cancelled; exams shift forward.
Niagara Region
District School Board of Niagara (DSBN): Schools/offices closed across Niagara; transportation cancelled.
Niagara Catholic District School Board (NCDSB): Closures were also reported across Niagara (check board updates for your specific school/community).
Wellington–Dufferin–Guelph and Waterloo Region
Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB): Schools/offices closed; buses/taxis cancelled; students shift to remote learning where possible; secondary exams rescheduled.
Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB): Schools closed; transportation cancelled.
Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB): Schools closed; transportation cancelled.
French-language boards (selected)
Some French-language boards reported widespread closures across multiple regions (Toronto, Peel, York, Halton, Durham, Niagara and more). If you’re in a Conseil scolaire, check your board’s alert page for your specific campus.
Post-secondary status (selected)
Some colleges and universities also adjusted operations Monday. The biggest rule here: campus-by-campus decisions can differ, even within the same university.
University of Toronto (U of T): Campus status varies by campus (St. George vs. Mississauga vs. Scarborough). Check the official status page before commuting.
If you’re attending another college/university (TMU, York, Humber, Sheridan, George Brown, Centennial, Seneca, etc.), rely on the school’s official alert page or campus safety updates because statuses can change early Monday.
How to check your school’s status fast (without scrolling social media for 20 minutes)
- Start with your school board homepage (most post a bright alert banner).
- Check transportation sites (board bus consortium pages) if your area sometimes cancels buses by zone.
- Look for exam updates (secondary schools often share a revised schedule directly to families/students).
