As a winter storm dumped heavy snow Sunday across Toronto and much of the GTA, forcing school closures, transit disruptions, and pleas for residents to stay home, many teachers found that a snow day did not mean a day off.
According to Environment Canada measurements, Toronto's Pearson Airport set a record with 46 cm of snow on Sunday, with near-whiteout conditions and dangerous travel prompting widespread cancellations.
For students, the storm brought an unexpected break from the classroom. For teachers, it brought a shift in where and how the work got done. Humber Et Cetera spoke with three Toronto-area teachers about their snow day routines. All asked not to have their name or the names of their schools included in the story.
“We are in the middle of report card season, so in terms of workload, there is lots to complete on top of delivering curriculum in the classroom,” said Stan, one downtown Toronto elementary school teacher who teaches special education and French. “Mother Nature may have given us a day where we can stay at home, but rest assured, I’m busy calculating averages and creating comments for Term 1 reports.”
Snow days are often viewed as a welcome pause for students, a perception that teachers largely agree with.
This teacher said the break can be beneficial for children juggling academic pressure and extracurricular commitments.
“Snow days can bring relief, rest, and outdoor play, which is necessary for a well-balanced life,” Stan said.
School closures across the city came on Sunday evening as road conditions deteriorated and officials urged residents to avoid non-essential travel.
While the storm disrupted commutes, teachers said much of their work followed them home.
Another elementary school teacher, Lisa, who teaches Grades 3 and 4, said the biggest change during a snow day is the pace, not the responsibilities.
“What changed is me not having to commute to school and having a slower-paced routine at home,” Lisa said. “What stayed the same is still having to catch up on unfinished work, such as marking, report cards, or planning for the next day.”
But teachers say that relief does not extend equally to educators. While there are no strict requirements during weather-related closures, many use the time to catch up on tasks that are difficult to complete during a regular school day.
“There isn’t any specific work we are required to do,” said Brenda, an elementary school teacher who works across multiple schools. “But as teachers, we take the opportunity to catch up on work such as planning, report cards, and IEPs.”
The storm also revived familiar challenges from the pandemic era, particularly the limitations of remote communication.
“Clearly the biggest challenge is the lack of face-to-face communication that is so important in education,” Stan said. “Teachers have learned to adapt and be flexible, but online platforms are not a replacement for in-person learning.”
Beyond lesson planning and assessments, teachers said snow days also come with personal challenges, including caring for family members, managing household responsibilities, and dealing with disruptions caused by severe weather.
“We face the same challenges that those in the private sector also face,” Stan said.
Lisa said snow days can offer a brief opportunity to reset, especially amid a demanding school year.
“They help me stay at home and reset so I am more prepared the following day when school reopens,” she said.
Teachers say one of the most overlooked impacts of snow days is the mental and emotional toll.
“Our mental health,” Lisa said, when asked what people often forget about teachers during weather disruptions.
Wallen added that much of a teacher’s work remains invisible to the public, extending well beyond the classroom bell.
“There is a perception that teachers treat snow days like holidays,” Stan said. “But there is so much invisible, undocumented work that teachers do daily. At the end of the day, we want the same things as everyone else — balance, safety and time to rest.”
