The Durham District School Board declared a system-wide closure of all DDSB schools and school-based childcare sites across the Durham Region, including Oshawa, on Monday, January 26, 2026, because of a massive snowstorm. The board’s notice said all schools and work sites would be closed to students and staff for the day and that school-based childcare programs — including before- and after-school care — were cancelled.
Although the board’s usual practice is to keep schools open for students who can walk when buses are cancelled, officials determined the weather presented an exceptional safety risk and so no students or staff were expected on-site. Durham Student Transportation Services (DSTS) cancelled all bus service across the region. Environment Canada and media reports forecasted as much as 60 centimetres of snow in parts of the GTHA, with overnight lows around −13°C.
This is the board’s first full system-wide building closure in January 2026; earlier in the month (Jan. 15) buses were cancelled across Durham but DDSB schools remained open. Local emergency services and regional officials advised residents to avoid non-essential travel until the heavy snow and high winds subside.
