Some classes, sports, flights and services cancelled as blizzard batters Saskatchewan

Some schools, city crews and sports organizations across the province are heeding Environment Canada’s weather alerts.

A blizzard warning from Environment Canada blanketed central and southern Saskatchewan on Wednesday, with the weather service warning that upwards of 20 cm of snow could fall in some areas, accompanied by high winds and even freezing rain in some regions.

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“Blizzard conditions with gusty winds and visibility frequently near zero in snow and blowing snow are expected. Travel will be dangerous and likely impossible due to near-zero visibility,” Environment Canada said in a statement.

Schools

Due to the worsening conditions, students in the Horizon School Division were dismissed at noon on Wednesday.

All Prairie Spirit schools were closed due to the blizzard.

“The safety of our students and staff is always our priority. Our concern is the ability of students and staff to get to and from school safely,” the school division said in a statement.

The division noted that classes are scheduled to resume normally on Thursday.

Wymark School cancelled classes for the morning and called off their Christmas concert.

Regina Public School Division said it is “taking the precautionary step to cancel all after school, extra-curricular activities, and field trips. Scheduled community events held in school buildings will be at the discretion of the organizers,” according to an emailed statement.

Following the end of the school day Wednesday, all Regina Public Schools will be closed for the evening, the school division added. It also noted that all school operations will return to normal on Thursday.

Municipal services

City workers in Regina won’t be picking up waste for the rest of the Wednesday. Waste from any homes that were missed on Wednesday will be picked up on Saturday instead, said the city.

The City of Moose Jaw said it was suspending transit services, garbage collection and recycling collection until further notice due to current weather conditions.

Airports

Several flights from Regina to Calgary and Vancouver were delayed or cancelled on Wednesday, according to the Regina Airport Authority’s website.

Saskatoon’s airport was also reporting a number of cancellations on Wednesday.

Sports

Even junior ‘A’ hockey games in the province have been canceled due to the winter storm blowing through Saskatchewan.

There were three games scheduled for Wednesday night in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, but the league said none of them will go ahead.

The news comes after a game between Nipawin and La Ronge was cancelled on Tuesday due to an influenza outbreak.

Meanwhile, Saskatoon Youth Soccer said all of its games that were scheduled for Wednesday have been cancelled.