Mix of spring snow, rain closes some Nova Scotia schools Friday
A mix of snow and rain that began Thursday morning and afternoon in the Maritimes has led to some messy road conditions in the region.
The messy mix caused several schools in eastern Nova Scotia to close or delay opening Friday morning.
CLOSURES
Schools are closed in Richmond County, Inverness County and Port Hawkesbury, N.S. Classes are also cancelled at East Antigonish Education Centre/Academy in Monastery, N.S.
All Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Centre for Education schools are closed.
In New Brunswick, many school buses were delayed by an hour.
Friday is a professional development day for schools in Prince Edward Island’s Public Schools Branch. Parent-teacher interviews and PD day sessions were delayed until 9:30 a.m.
WEATHER WARNINGS
Snowfall warnings are still in place Friday afternoon in Sydney Metro and Cape Breton County and Victoria County, where 20 to 25 cm of snow accumulation is expected before tapering off in the afternoon.
Cape Breton resident Allan Baillie was happy to have his snow blower to help clear his driveway on Friday, but was dreaming of warmer months ahead.
"I'm looking forward to getting out on the river again with the warmer weather," he said.
Others in Cape Breton saw Friday's storm as an opportunity to cash in and help out.
"We're shovelling driveways, the stairs, cleaning off the cars and doing anything else we can to help," said JJ Watkins.
GOVERNMENT DELAYS
Provincial government offices in Nova Scotia’s Inverness, Richmond and Victoria counties and the Cape Breton Regional Municipality delayed opening until noon.
Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s city hall is closed for the day.
TRAVEL
Transit Cape Breton services were not operating Friday morning.
Christina Lamey, with the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, says the storm had a significant impact on services.
"It was touch and go on whether we'd be able to get transit on the road. It turns out we were not able to start transit until noon," she said.
Lamey says it will be well into the evening hours before all roads are cleared and sidewalks are plowed.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING | Majority of MPs vote for foreign interference special rapporteur Johnston to 'step aside'
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's efforts to assure Canadians that his government is adequately addressing the threat of foreign interference took a hit on Wednesday, when the majority of MPs in the House of Commons voted for special rapporteur David Johnston to 'step aside.'

UPDATED | 'I heard a cracking noise': 16 children, 1 adult injured in platform collapse at Winnipeg's Fort Gibraltar
Seventeen people – most of whom are young students – were hospitalized after a falling from a height during a field trip at Winnipeg's Fort Gibraltar. However, many of the children are now being discharged and sent home, according to an update from the hospital.
BREAKING | Federal Court of Appeal: Canada not constitutionally obligated to bring home suspected ISIS fighters
The Government of Canada has won its appeal and will not be legally forced to repatriate four Canadian men from prisons in Northeast Syria.
What you may not have known about bladder cancer
Although bladder cancer is the fifth most common cancer in Canada, experts say there’s a significant lack of awareness surrounding whom it affects the most — statistically, men — and that the most common risk factor is smoking.
Canada is first to require health warnings printed on individual cigarettes
Canada will soon require health warnings to be printed directly on individual cigarettes, making it the first country to implement this kind of measure aimed at reducing tobacco usage.
Study identifies the rise and fall of lifestyle habits during pandemic
More than three years after COVID was declared a global pandemic, a new study is looking at how the international health crisis has changed the lifestyle habits of Canadians.
Ottawa sends minister to Nigeria inauguration after accusing party of terror link
A year after arguing Nigeria's ruling party is responsible for terrorist acts, the Trudeau government has sent a cabinet minister to celebrate the swearing-in of its new president.
What slowdown? Economy outperforms, raising odds of a rate hike
The Canadian economy grew faster than expected in the first three months of the year and likely expanded again in April, fuelling speculation that the Bank of Canada will raise interest rates again.
Canada saw decline in fresh fruit, vegetable availability in 2022: StatCan
Statistics Canada says fewer fresh fruits and vegetables were available to Canadians in 2022, due to factors such as ongoing supply chain issues, labour shortages and price increases.