A fast‑moving winter storm has triggered widespread school bus cancellations — and several full school closures — across Toronto and the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) on Thursday, as boards warn of hazardous travel conditions and reduced visibility during the morning commute.

Below is a detailed breakdown of impacts by school board.

Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB)

Toronto has moved to a full systemwide shutdown as the winter storm intensifies.

Both the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) have closed all schools today, citing unsafe road conditions and worsening weather.

The Toronto Student Transportation Group (TSTG) was the first to issue a citywide alert, confirming that all school bus and student transportation services are cancelled.

Shortly after, the TDSB announced a full closure of its schools, childcare centres, and all before‑ and after‑school programs. The TCDSB followed with its own systemwide closure.

Halton District School Board (HDSB) and Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB)

All schools under both the Halton District School Board (HDSB) and the Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) are closed for the day.

The boards confirmed that transportation is cancelled in Zones 1, 2, and 3, affecting the entire region.

The closures include:

All elementary and secondary schools

Administrative centres

School-based programs and activities

Families are advised to monitor board channels for updates as conditions evolve.

York Region District School Board (YDSB) and York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB)

York Region has expanded its weather response.

Earlier, the York Region District School Board (YRDSB) announced that all transportation services were cancelled, with schools remaining open.

A new update confirms that all schools serving both YRDSB and the York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) are closed region‑wide.

“Due to emergency weather, transportation services are cancelled, and all schools and board locations are closed to students today, Jan. 15, 2026. Parents, do not send your child to school today.”

Peel District School Board (PDSB) and Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB)

The storm has forced a full closure across Peel Region.

The Peel District School Board (PDSB) and Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB) announced that all schools and worksites are closed, and all buses are cancelled.

The PDSB confirmed the closure includes:

Childcare centres

Night school

Community permits

All school‑based activities

“All DPCDSB schools and offices/facilities are closed to students and staff today due to winter weather conditions,” wrote the board.

Durham District School Board (DDSB) and Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB)

Durham Region has issued a full transportation shutdown across all zones.

Durham Student Transportation Services (DSTS) announced that all school buses are cancelled in every zone — including:

Zone 1: Brock

Zone 2: Uxbridge

Zone 3: Scugog

Zone 4: Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa

The agency said the decision was made due to “road conditions resulting from inclement weather.”

Despite the transportation shutdown, all schools remain open across both the Durham District School Board (DDSB) and the Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB).

DSTS emphasized that buses will not operate in the morning or afternoon, meaning families will need to arrange both drop‑off and pickup if students attend in person.

Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB)

Hamilton is experiencing some of the most significant disruptions in the region.

The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board has closed all schools and facilities, including:

Elementary and secondary schools

Adult education centres

School-based childcare centres

Administrative buildings

Community Use of Schools programs

Transportation is fully cancelled.

The board added:

“Due to inclement weather, all HWCDSB schools, adult education centres, school-based childcare centres, administrative buildings and Community Use of Schools are closed today, Jan. 15, 2026 and student transportation is cancelled. Teachers will post asynchronous materials by 10 a.m.”

Students will shift to independent learning for the day.