Schools closed as winter storm hits Hamilton, Niagara and Halton

Schools across the city are closed Monday and buses are cancelled as a winter storm hits the region.

But while Hamilton's public school board has cancelled all classes, the Catholic board is going ahead with remote learning for elementary students.

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) said, in a press release Monday morning, that "all remote, eLearning, child care, and in-person learning programming is cancelled today, Jan. 17 due to inclement weather and as a result of cancelled transportation. All HWDSB schools, admin buildings and child care centres are closed. Transportation is not running."

All Catholic schools at the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB) are closed as well. The board said "Student transportation is cancelled, and all schools and adult education centres of the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School are closed for in-person learning today."

However, the HWCDSB said elementary virtual school will operate as usual and that "in-person students will have the opportunity to participate in asynchronous learning. Work will be posted by 10am."

Student transportation is cancelled, and all schools and adult education centres of the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School are closed for in-person learning today, Monday, January 17th, due to inclement weather.

The elementary virtual school will operate as per usual. In-person students will have the opportunity to participate in asynchronous learning. Work will be posted by 10am.

HSR said on Twitter that riders should expect "significant delays on routes across the city due to weather. #HSR2 Barton buses are detouring at end of line around Bell Manor Loop. Routes 20, 21, 33 and 35 are also detouring to avoid West 5th access. No service cancellations at this time."

Niagara

Niagara's public and Catholic schools have also declared a snow day, including for virtual learning.

"We know lots of you were ready to go to school today, but it's officially a long weekend, so we really hope you enjoy it!," read a tweet from District School Board of Niagara.

A statement on the board's website said all schools and administrative buildings are not open. "Please keep warm and safe!" it added.

Niagara Catholic District School Board said in a post on Twitter that all of its sites are also closed for the day because of the weather.

"If you must travel, please stay safe," it read.

Optional, "asynchronous activities" can be found here.

Halton

Buses are cancelled and all schools and associated with the Halton District School Board are closed on Monday.

The board said the closures cover both in-person and virtual students.

The same is true for schools that are part of the Halton Catholic District School board, which has cancelled all in-person and online classes.

McMaster. Mohawk shut down for the day

McMaster University and Mohawk College announced they were both shutting down on Monday because of the snowfall.

Both post-secondary institutions said scheduled classes, labs, studios and events both in-person and virtual are cancelled.

The closure there includes all facilities that are currently open under the McMaster's COVID-19 regulations, except residences.

Redeemer

Redeemer University has cancelled all day classes on Monday.

Evening classes will continue as scheduled.

Brock and Niagara College

Brock University has cancelled in-person classes and on-campus activities, citing the weather.

Online classes will continue as scheduled.

Niagara College Canada is taking the same approach.

On-campus classes are cancelled but remote classes and work will continue.