For the second consecutive Monday, residents of Nova Scotia are working to dig out from the aftermath of a strong winter storm that swept through the region late Sunday. This inclement weather has resulted in numerous cancellations and closures across various sectors.
Schools
In light of the storm, the Halifax Regional Centre for Education has announced the closure of all schools. Similarly, other educational institutions are affected, including:
- Chignecto-Central Regional Centre for Education
- Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education
- South Shore Regional Centre for Education
- Tri-County Regional Centre for Education
- Dalhousie University campuses in Halifax and Truro
- Saint Mary's University (SMU) campus
- Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD)
- All Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) campuses
- Atlantic School of Theology (AST) campus and library
Transit and Waste Collection
Halifax Transit has announced that snow routes will be in effect, and service disruptions will be communicated as necessary. Curbside solid waste collection originally scheduled for January 26 has been postponed to January 31. Residents are advised to hold off on placing waste curbside for collection on January 27 until that morning to facilitate snow clearing efforts. Furthermore, the Otter Lake Waste Facility and other recycling and organics processing centers will remain closed.
Municipal Operations
All municipal offices, including those for in-person planning, development permit offices, and 311 customer service centers, will open later, specifically delayed until noon. Additional updates will be provided regarding any further delays or closures. Employees whose roles permit are being encouraged to work from home, while essential services, along with winter operations and Halifax Transit, continue to function.
Provincial Government
Offices belonging to the provincial government are closed due to adverse weather conditions. Court operations will proceed on a case-by-case basis, and individuals with court matters are advised to confirm details with their legal representatives or the courthouse directly.
For courthouse contact information, individuals can visit the website.
Executive Standing Committee Meeting
The scheduled Executive Standing Committee meeting has been canceled.
Halifax Stanfield International Airport
The airport is experiencing numerous delays and cancellations. Passengers are urged to confirm their flight status with airlines prior to traveling to the airport.
Parks and Recreation
Municipal recreation facilities are closed, with a decision pending regarding rentals, facilities, and programming activities for Tuesday. The Halifax Forum’s ice surfaces, including the Forum Arena and Civic Centre, are closed for the morning due to the risk of snow accumulation on the roof. Staff will monitor conditions and provide updates by noon.
The Halifax Public Gardens are closed as well.
Support for the Homeless
During the storm, the municipality's After-Hours Individualized Mobile Engagement (AIM) team actively engaged with individuals experiencing homelessness to provide information about available shelter options. The team will continue to offer support and transportation as needed. Emergency shelters funded by the Province of Nova Scotia are operating under various service providers across Halifax, Dartmouth, and Lower Sackville. Those seeking emergency assistance can reach local services by contacting 211.
Business Impact
Irving Shipbuilding has announced a delayed start for the day shift, with operations commencing at 10 AM across all its sites. This continues the trend of significant disruptions stemming from the winter storm.
