The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are currently responding to evacuations at schools in eastern Ontario due to several threats made in other parts of the province.

The Seeker has learned that the OPP became aware of evacuations occurring within the Conseil scolaire de district catholique de l’Est ontarien (CSDCEO). However, it remains unclear whether these evacuations are a direct result of threats specifically targeting that school board.

Meanwhile, the CDSBEO sent the following email to parents:

Dear parent/guardians,

We have recently learned of a threat against French Catholic schools in the province.

The Board consulted swiftly with police who were able to share that the threat was not directed at our board or to English Catholic boards in the province.

Out of an abundance of caution however, and at the advice of OPP, the Board has put all schools in a hold and secure.

We will update families as soon as we have more information.

Thank you for your patience and kind attention.

Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario

This development coincides with the ongoing investigation by the OPP into a series of bomb threats in northern Ontario. These threats have affected multiple schools across various school boards in the northeast and northwest regions of the province, with the perpetrators demanding payment. As a precautionary measure, the affected schools have been temporarily closed.

It is important to note that as of now, law enforcement has not discovered any evidence of actual explosive devices in any of these instances.

We are following the story closely.

Update 1:30pm — CDSBEO sent an email to parents informing them they are no longer in “Hold and Secure”.