For the second consecutive day, residents of Nova Scotia are engaged in efforts to recover from a powerful winter storm that began impacting the region late Sunday. The aftermath of this storm has resulted in numerous cancellations and closures across various sectors, including education, transportation, and municipal services.

Schools

All schools within the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) have been closed, with offices opening two hours later than usual. Similarly, several other educational institutions across Nova Scotia are affected:

• The Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education is closed.
• South Shore Regional Centre for Education has also closed all schools and offices.
• Schools within the Tri-County Regional Centre for Education are not operational today.
• The Strait Regional Centre for Education has closed its schools and offices.
• All schools under the Chignecto-Central Regional Centre for Education (CCRC) covering Cumberland County, Colchester County, Pictou County, and the Municipality of East Hants are closed.
• The Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Centre for Education has announced closures for its schools.
• In higher education, Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) campuses in Truro and Cumberland, as well as the Amherst Learning Centre, are closed due to the adverse weather conditions. NSCC Pictou Campus, NSCC Strait Area Campus, and the Wagmatcook Learning Centre will be delaying their openings.

Halifax Transit

Halifax Transit has announced that snow routes for buses will remain in effect on January 27. Passengers should anticipate delays and are advised to allocate extra time for their journeys. Access-a-bus services are also expected to experience delays. Currently, ferry operations are unaffected, though there is a continuing 30-minute disruption to the Alderney ferry service. Service interruptions will be communicated as necessary through the official Halifax Transit Bluesky account and their website.

Halifax Stanfield International Airport

Airport officials are advising travelers to check their flight statuses with airlines prior to departing for the airport. This precaution is essential due to potential impacts from the ongoing winter weather.

Solid Waste Collection

Curbside solid waste collections scheduled for January 27 are set to proceed as planned. Residents are encouraged to hold off on placing waste curbside until the morning to allow for overnight snow clearing operations. The Otter Lake Waste Facility, Materials Recycling Facility, and Organics Management Facility are confirmed to be open for regular operations.

Municipal Offices

In light of the storm, all municipal offices, including Planning & Development permit offices and Customer Service Centres, will delay opening until 10 a.m. on January 27. The municipality has indicated that updates will follow if there are additional delays or closures. Employees capable of working from home are being advised to do so, though all essential services, including 311, winter operations, and Halifax Transit, are continuing uninterrupted. A scheduled Regional Council meeting on January 27 will take place as planned.

Parks & Recreation

Most municipally-owned and operated recreation facilities are set to open on schedule on January 27. However, residents are encouraged to call their local recreation centre to confirm availability. The Halifax Public Gardens is expected to remain closed in the morning, with a reassessment of opening based on prevailing weather conditions.