Thousands of elementary and secondary schools across Southern Ontario shut their doors following the aftermath of a major snowstorm that walloped the city over the weekend.
According to a report by Environment Canada, 46 centimetres of snow fell at Toronto Pearson Airport on Sunday, marking the highest daily total snowfall on record. Neighbourhoods like the City Centre and South Etobicoke saw estimated amounts of up to 56 centimetres and 53 centimetres, respectively.
For many secondary school students, the snow day meant that their end-of-semester exams had to be rescheduled for later in the week.
Jazmin Ramsammy, a Grade 11 student from Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School and Regional Arts Centre, who was meant to take a physics exam on Monday, said she was elated to hear about the closure.
“I was really happy because it meant that I had a couple extra days to study for my exam, because I don’t have any other ones,” Ramsammy said.
She is not alone.
Julia Kos, a Grade 11 student at the same school, who was scheduled to take a religion exam, said she is also quite relieved despite the circumstances.
“[I was relieved] because I had an additional day to study for the exam I would have on Tuesday and Wednesday, which are my accounting and math exams, which are much harder,” Kos said.
As for her rescheduled exam, Kos said she “didn’t really mind that [it] was cancelled because the subject didn’t require much studying."
In a statement to parents and guardians, the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) said the decision to close its schools, childcare centres and Extended Day Programs was “not made lightly.”
“We recognize this decision may be disruptive for families and appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of our students, families, and staff,” the TCDSB said.
They said the decision to close its facilities was made at about 6 a.m., allowing families enough time to make alternative arrangements, as part of the TCDSB’s Inclement Weather Protocol.
At the secondary school level, administrators echoed the Board’s decision.
In an email to parents, the principal of Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School and R.A.C., John D’Onofrio, confirmed that all secondary school exams for Monday will be rescheduled due to the storm.
“Exams scheduled for Monday, Jan. 26, period 2, will be rescheduled to Thursday, Jan. 29, at the same times,” D’Onofrio said.
“Exams scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 27 and Wednesday, Jan. 28 will proceed as planned,” he said.
As a result, the City of Toronto has activated its Major Snow Event Response Plan (MSERP) due to the amount of snow accumulation and ongoing clean-up efforts.
The storm brings the January 2026 snowfall total to 88.2 cm, making it the “snowiest January and snowiest month since records began in 1937,” according to Environment Canada.
