In the aftermath of a brutal ice storm that whipped most of southwestern Ontario, all schools are closed and buses cancelled across the London-area Thursday.
Southwestern Ontario Student Transportation Services confirmed just before 6 a.m. that school purpose vehicles that serve the Thames Valley and London District Catholic school boards will not be on the roads. For students that take the bus in Middlesex and Elgin counties this is the second day buses have not run.
Shortly after the bus cancellations came in, the London District Catholic and Thames Valley District school boards also confirmed all schools would be closed for the day. The closure also includes before and after school programs, and activities and events, such as the elementary gymnastics meet for the Catholic board. Thames Valley added that there would be no online learning activities taking place.
The Providence Catholic School Board is keeping schools closed in the London-Middlesex and Woodstock-Oxford areas. The closure includes the following schools; École élémentaire catholique Frère-André, École élémentaire catholique Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc, École élémentaire catholique Saint-Jean de Brébeuf, École secondaire catholique Monseigneur-Bruyère, École élémentaire catholique Sainte-Marguerite-Bourgeoys, École secondaire catholique Notre-Dame
Western University is delaying opening until noon Thursday.
The school closures and bus cancellations come as roads are slick and a little snow-covered in spots. Ice pellets, freezing rain and snow moved across the region Wednesday and continued overnight. Environment Canada had issued a freezing rain warning, which has now been downgraded to a freezing drizzle advisory. Sanders and plows are out working to clean up from the messy weather system.
