Many educational institutions in southern Quebec have shut their doors on Wednesday in preparation for an impending ice storm. The Eastern Townships School Board made the decision to close all schools, centers, daycares, and school transportation services just before 6 a.m. The Lester B. Pearson School Board, operating in the West Island and areas west of Montreal to the Ontario border, also announced its closure on Tuesday evening, including all schools, centers, and administrative offices.
The Centre de services scolaire de Montréal (CSSDM), responsible for a significant portion of the city, declared the closure of all schools, daycare services, administrative offices, and adult education classes for Wednesday. The English Montreal School Board shared on its Facebook page that it would be closed as a precautionary measure, encompassing all educational facilities, daycares, adult and vocational centers, virtual school, and the EMSB administration building.
The Centre de services scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys confirmed its closure, including remote classes, and advised caution for essential travel. The Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board on Montreal’s North Shore instructed students to stay home, with daycare services also suspended.
Further closures were announced by the Centre de services scolaire des Mille-Îles (CSSMI) north of Montreal and the Centre de services scolaire des Navigateurs in the Chaudière-Appalaches region near Quebec City. In Quebec City, the Centre de services scolaire de la Capitale (CSSC) also opted to close for the day.
The Centre de services scolaire de Laval shut down all schools and centers for Wednesday, canceling all day and evening classes, suspending school transport, and closing daycares. Concordia and McGill universities moved to cancel in-person classes for the day, with several CEGEPs throughout southern Quebec following suit.
For the latest updates on school closures, individuals are advised to refer to their respective school boards or school service center websites or social media platforms. Ski enthusiasts are encouraged to check with their preferred ski resorts before heading out, as locations like Les Sommets, Mont-Tremblant, Bromont, Sutton, Orford, and Owl’s Head are closing for the day.
Environment Canada issued an “orange alert” for much of southern Quebec, warning residents to prepare for significant disruptions. Freezing rain totaling between 20 and 30 millimeters is anticipated for Wednesday, while areas further north in Quebec, including Charlevoix, Saguenay, and Rimouski, may receive 20 to 30 centimeters of snow.