2 Winnipeg high schools closed Monday due to threats

Two Winnipeg high schools — Elmwood and Oak Park — have cancelled classes for Monday after receiving threats.

Winnipeg School Division superintendent Matt Henderson said the threats to both schools were sent via email on Sunday evening.

He wouldn’t disclose the nature of the threats but said the police have been contacted and the schools have been closed out of an abundance of caution.

“We just want to make sure that everybody’s safe and make sure that the police can come and do a bit of an investigation before we open up the doors again,” Henderson said.

The closure at Elmwood also impacts the Munroe Early Childhood Education Centre, which operates out of the school.

“So lots of folks are trying to make alternative arrangements,” Henderson said. “When these threats are made it really upsets people’s lives. We’re in the business of teaching and learning and now there’s a day without teaching and learning.”

Elmwood is part of the Winnipeg School Division and located in the neighbourhood of the same name. Oak Park is in the Charleswood neighbourhood and part of the Pembina Trails School Division.

Henderson said an update will be provided to parents and students later in the day about what will happen going forward.

Pembina Trails has advised Oak Park students to check their teacher’s Edsby sites for learning updates.