Halifax Closures Today: Schools, Transit, Shipyards and Recreation Facilities Shut as Snow Hits

A powerful winter weather system has triggered widespread closures and service disruptions across Halifax and surrounding areas, with schools, recreation facilities, municipal offices and industrial operations all affected on Monday, January 26.

Local authorities and institutions say the measures are necessary to ensure public safety as crews respond to snowfall, hazardous road conditions and infrastructure concerns. Below is a full breakdown of confirmed cancellations, delays and closures across the region.

Source: Information compiled from official community updates shared via Facebook: View source post.

Schools and Post-Secondary Institutions

• Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) – Closed
• Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) – All campuses closed
• Acadia University – Closed

Students and staff are advised to monitor institutional email alerts and official websites for updates on Tuesday operations.

Parks and Recreation Facilities

• Zatzman Sportsplex – Delayed opening until 4:00 p.m.
• Sackville Sports Stadium – Closed
• Cole Harbour Place – Delayed opening until 4:00 p.m.
• Canada Games Centre – Delayed opening until 2:00 p.m.

All municipally owned and operated recreation facilities will remain closed for the day. Officials say a decision will be made later Monday on whether rentals, programs and activities scheduled for January 27 will proceed as planned.

In addition, the Halifax Forum ice surfaces — including the Forum Arena and the Civic Centre — will be closed for the morning due to concerns about potential snow accumulation on the building’s roof. Staff will reassess conditions at noon to determine whether afternoon or evening programming can resume.

The Halifax Public Gardens will also remain closed for the day.

Municipal Services and Government Operations

• Overnight winter parking ban enforced from 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. in both central and non-central zones
• No garbage pickup on January 26 – rescheduled to January 31
• Otter Lake Waste Facility – Closed
• Materials Recycling Facility – Closed
• Organics Management Facility – Closed

All municipal offices, including in-person Planning and Development permit offices and 311 Customer Service Centres, will delay opening until noon. Essential services, winter operations, 311 phone support and Halifax Transit will continue to operate.

Halifax Transit

Snow routes for buses will be in effect throughout January 26. Riders are encouraged to expect delays and service adjustments, which will be announced as needed via official Halifax Transit channels and social updates.

Irving Shipbuilding

Due to weather conditions, production work for the day shift at all Irving Shipbuilding sites will be delayed until 10:00 a.m..

Officials continue to monitor conditions closely and urge residents to limit travel where possible, allow extra time for commutes and stay alert for further updates as cleanup efforts continue.