Ontario's Ice Storm Update

Mayor Alex Nuttall Joined Us To Talk About The Ice Storm Recovery

POWER

• Please do not call police for power updates...they need to keep their lines open for emergencies
• Alectra Outage in Barrie affecting approximately 43 homes. Estimated restoration time to be determined.
• InnPower We are down to 4% of our customer base currently without power. Crews are working in the following areas this morning: Strathallen Fairway/Silverbirch BBP and 30th Sdrd 10th Sdrd (South of IBR) Poplar Pine Ave
• Elexicon Approximately 2,200 customers remain without power in Gravenhurst, with most expected to be restored by Thursday evening and the remaining by Sunday. In Beaverton, approximately 1,100 customers remain without power, with restoration expected by 10 p.m. tonight.
• Lakeland Power Multiple widespread outages in Bracebridge affecting approx. 1000 homes and businesses in Bracebridge area. Crews continue to work to clear safety concerns and restore power. The current ETR has been updated on our outage map.
• NT Power Power has been restored to more than 95% of our customers.
• Hydro One Given the severity and widespread damage caused by this storm, the utility expects restoration in the hardest-hit areas to continue throughout the week. Restoration in remote areas may take longer. Road access continues to be a challenge in the hardest hit areas, along with safety concerns of trees and tree limbs coming down. Crews have restored power to more than 783,000 customers since the start of the storm. 

PARKS

• For your safety, please stay out of City of Barrie parks and refrain from cleaning up your property. Ice accumulation on large trees is making nearby areas very dangerous due to falling branches.

CANCELLATIONS and CLOSURES

Can be found here including details about schools closed with the Simcoe County District School Board, Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board, and Trillium Lakelands District School Board.

NOTE: All school buses and vans in Simcoe County have been cancelled Wednesday due to Environment Canada’s warning forecasting freezing rain, ice accretion and icy road conditions throughout the school day.

RELIEF CENTRES

Please note, this information is subject to change regularly.

Barrie: Allendale Rec Centre, 190 Bayview Dr., Barrie

Orillia: Orillia Recreation Centre, 255 West St. South, Orillia

Midland: please visit either location listed below to warm up (bring your own blankets & refreshments), charge electronic devices (bring your own charging cables & blocks), and fill up your personal water bottles.

North Simcoe Sports and Recreation Centre, 527 Len Self Blvd., Midland
(open Monday from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.)

Town Hall, 575 Dominion Ave., Midland
(open Monday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)

Severn: Washago Community Centre, 4361 Hamilton St., Washago

services include: charging stations, restrooms, warm drinks

open daily from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

for status and details visit severn.ca/notices

Tay: 450 Park St., Victoria Harbour

Township of Tiny: washrooms and power for charging cell phone devices (please bring your own charger) are available

Wyebridge Community Centre, 8340 Highway 93

Open April 1, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Township of Tiny Office, 130 Balm Beach Road West

Open April 1, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Penetanguishene: residents can warm up (bring your own blankets/refreshments), charge electronics (bring your own charging cables and blocks), and fill personal water bottles

Memorial Community Centre, 61 Maria St.: 10am-8pm

Townhall, 10 Robert St. W.: 10am-4pm. Please note, this location has limited capacity

Oro-Medonte:

Horseshoe Resort, 1101 Horseshoe Valley Rd. W., open from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. starting afternoon of April 1st

Clearview:

New Lowell Joint Operations Centre, March 31 to April 3rd from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Station 5 (Singhampton), March 31 to April 3rd from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Springwater: The Administration Centre is operating with reduced staffing levels. It is recommended to call ahead or visit www.springwater.ca/Contact to ensure service requested is available.

Administration Centre (2231 Nursery Road) remains open to the public as an emergency warming and relief centre.

Hours: 8:30 AM – 8:00 PM

Priority is given to those with medical needs.

Service dogs are welcome. 

Bring your own chargers and reusable water bottles.

Please sign in with staff upon arrival.

Ramara 

The Township Administration Building, located at 2297 Highway 12, is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Residents are able to charge their devices, use the public facilities, and get warm

Beausoleil First Nation:

Emergency power has been re-established at the Recreation Centre and will now serve as the warming centre. Shower facilities are also available at the Recreation Centre.

The Chippewas of Rama First Nation:

Community Members can visit the MASK to stay warm or charge essential devices. Should hydro not be restored, the MASK will be open beyond regular hours as a designated emergency shelter.

SCHOOLS

WEDNESDAY

Simcoe County District School Board

Due to ongoing power outages, the following Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) schools will be closed to students on Wednesday, April 2:

• Brechin PS
• East Oro PS
• Forest Hill PS
• Goodfellow PS
• Guthrie PS
• Holly Meadows ES
• Marchmont PS
• Rama Central PS
• Severn Shores PS
• Shanty Bay PS
• Uptergrove PS
• Warminster ES
• WR Best Memorial PS

In addition, in consultation with the County of Simcoe, the City of Orillia, and surrounding emergency services, to support storm cleanup and power restoration efforts, the following schools in Orillia will be closed to students on Wednesday, April 2 and Thursday, April 3:

• Couchiching Heights PS
• Harriett Todd PS
• Lions Oval PS
• Orchard Park PS
• Orillia Learning Centre
• Orillia SS
• Regent Park PS
• Simcoe Shores (Orillia campus)
• Twin Lakes SS

Facilities, operations, and maintenance staff will go to their work locations in all zones, as per their regular schedule.

Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board

Schools in our northern region continue to be under a State of Emergency order because of the extensive clean up required and continued power outages. As a result, schools in the following areas will remain closed on Wednesday, April 2nd AND Thursday, April 3rd:

Closed Schools

• District of Muskoka (Monsignor Michael O’Leary, St. Dominic and Saint Mary)
• Orillia (St. Bernards, Monsignor Lee, Notre Dame, Patrick Fogarty and Foley)

This means there will be no students or staff at schools in these areas and childcare centres will be closed. Schools will not be moving to online learning. 

Reopened Schools 

Power has been fully restored for schools in the rest of our district and schools in the following areas will be open for student learning on Wednesday, April 2nd. 

• Barrie, Innisfil, Angus
• Midland, Penetanguishene, Elmvale
• Wasaga Beach and Collingwood
• Bradford, Beeton, Alliston and Tottenham
• Parry Sound 

Families are reminded to check that buses are running and on schedule - if buses are cancelled due to inclement weather, the reopened schools listed above will be open for student learning.

GARBAGE COLLECTION

Garbage collection is running a day late in Barrie this week.

Garbage and recycling collection is suspended in Orillia for this week.
Residents can put their garbage and recycling materials out next week. 

Waste collections in Simcoe County will continue where possible. If areas are missed due to debris or ongoing road closures on your designated collection day, residents are to leave carts curbside. Collection crews will attempt to collect those locations during the week, up to and including Friday