Several schools across Stratford and the surrounding Huron and Perth counties — and the Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) Education Centre in Seaforth — were closed on Friday, January 23, 2026, because of a severe winter storm that made travel unsafe.
The closures followed a snow squall warning from Environment Canada that reduced visibility on local roads. Early that morning Huron‑Perth Student Transportation Services (HPSTS) cancelled all school buses, and AMDSB subsequently closed several school sites and the Education Centre in Seaforth as conditions deteriorated.
High school students were particularly affected: Friday, Jan. 23 was the first day of the board’s Secondary Winter Exam period (scheduled Jan. 23–29, 2026). Under AMDSB’s inclement‑weather procedures (Administrative Procedure 178), exams missed because of cancellations are moved to the next school day — in this case Monday, Jan. 26, 2026 — which pushes the remainder of the exam schedule forward by one day.
In addition to classes and exams being cancelled, after‑school sports and community group use of school buildings were suspended for the day. The AMDSB Education Centre in Seaforth was closed on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026.
Families were advised to monitor the HPSTS/OurSchoolBuses BusPlanner portal and mobile app for up‑to‑date information on busing and school status. AMDSB’s inclement‑weather procedure notes that decisions about cancellations and closures are made as early as possible in the morning to protect student and staff safety.
