Severe Weather Causes Widespread Bus Cancellations
“Non-essential travel is not recommended,” stated Environment Canada as freezing rain warnings were issued for the Ottawa-Gatineau area. The adverse weather conditions have led to significant disruptions across eastern Ontario and western Quebec.
All school buses in the region have been cancelled due to the freezing rain, impacting students’ ability to attend classes. In addition, Algonquin College has announced the cancellation of in-person classes for March 11, 2026, further highlighting the severity of the situation.
In western Quebec and Renfrew County, all schools are closed, and transportation services have been halted. According to Renfrew County Public & Renfrew County Catholic, “Transportation services are CANCELLED for ALL AREAS. All schools are closed.” This has left many families scrambling to find alternative arrangements.
Reports indicate that approximately 50 flights were cancelled at Ottawa International Airport as a result of the storm, which has also caused widespread power outages. Currently, around 7,500 customers in western Quebec are without power, with 4,300 of those in Hydro One’s Bancroft and Cobden areas.
The freezing rain is expected to bring 1-2 centimetres to Ottawa, while areas south of the warnings could see up to 20-40 millimetres of rain. The storm’s impact is reminiscent of the April 2023 ice storm that caused significant power outages in the region.
In addition to the school cancellations, transportation services for various school zones have been affected. Bluewater Public & Bruce-Grey Catholic confirmed that “Buses for schools in Zone 5 (Lions Head & Tobermory) are cancelled today.” Similar cancellations have been reported in Sudbury, Espanola, Massey, and Manitoulin.
As the storm continues to develop, residents are advised to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. Details remain unconfirmed regarding the full extent of the storm’s impact and any further cancellations that may arise.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates as necessary. The community is urged to remain vigilant and prepared for ongoing weather challenges.
