Bouncer News | By Abdul Jabbar
A street parking ban remains in effect in Kitchener until 9 p.m. on Friday as southern Ontario continues to recover from a powerful winter storm that began Wednesday afternoon.
Similar restrictions were enforced in Waterloo, Cambridge, and Woolwich Township as of Thursday evening. However, Cambridge and Woolwich are expected to lift their parking bans by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday.
The severe snowstorm led to school closures across Waterloo Region on Thursday, affecting all public and Catholic schools, as well as St. Louis Adult Learning and Continuing Education Centre sites and extended day child care programs. Environment Canada had issued a snowfall warning early Wednesday, predicting between 15 and 25 centimetres of accumulation. The warning was lifted on Thursday morning.
Local school boards preemptively announced closures and the cancellation of school buses on Wednesday evening in anticipation of the storm’s impact.
Municipal Response to the Storm
Waterloo Region municipalities declared a significant weather event, which means snow removal efforts may take longer than usual for roads and bike lanes. Alongside the declaration, authorities enforced street parking bans to facilitate snow-clearing operations.
Closures and Service Disruptions
- Universities and Colleges: The University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, and Conestoga College canceled all classes and closed their campuses on Thursday.
- Child Care Facilities: All YMCA of Three Rivers Child Care locations in the region were shut down due to hazardous weather conditions.
- Libraries: The Kitchener Public Library and Cambridge Public Library delayed their openings until 1 p.m. on Thursday.
- Kitchener: Many community programs were canceled, but community centres remained open. The city continues to update its list of affected services.
- Waterloo: All city-run recreation and leisure programs scheduled between 5 and 9 a.m. on Thursday were canceled.
Authorities urge residents to remain cautious as cleanup efforts continue and to adhere to parking restrictions until lifted. Stay tuned for further updates as the situation develops.