Hundreds of U of G students writing final exams evacuated after bomb threat
Staff and students have been cleared to re-enter three University of Guelph buildings that were evacuated Monday morning due to a bomb threat.
In a media release issued at 3:08 p.m., Guelph police said no explosive device was found.
Around 600 students were writing exams in Rozanski Hall when the fire alarm went off around 9:30 a.m. and they were told to evacuate.
“Our teacher just calmly told us to leave our papers, leave our bags and just walk out, do the regular fire drill stuff – nothing too crazy," second-year student Liam Calhoun said. "Then everything got taped off, we were just told to stay away from the building."
In a message sent out via the university’s alert system at 10:20 a.m., Campus Safety ordered the evacuation of Rozanski Hall, the Bullring, and the Landscape Architecture building due to a “security risk.”
No details about the nature of the threat were released until the update from police came out later in the day.
“We’re just waiting around, waiting for anyone to give us any kind of information about anything because all our stuff is in there,” another student, Nathan Daxon told CTV News around 1 p.m., noting he was unable to contact anyone because his phone was still inside the exam room.
Calhoun was writing his last exam of the semester and getting ready to leave for the summer. He said it's a bit disappointing he’ll now have to stay longer.
"It’s not the best thing, but honestly not much you can do about it," he said. "You just keep on going, and hopefully, they figure it all out, and everyone’s safe."
Students were allowed back into the buildings just after 2 p.m.
POLICE INVESTIGATION
Guelph police said the threat came in to their dispatch centre around 9:30 a.m., and the university made the decision to evacuate the buildings.
A canine unit from Halton regional police, which is trained in detecting explosives, searched the building and found no explosive device, police said.
“We want the community to know that we do take these threats seriously,” police spokesperson Scott Tracey said. “It’s very distressing for students and faculty on campus and obviously a tremendous use of resources, both university resources and police resources, to properly investigate this.”
EXAMS RESCHEDULED
Exams scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at Rozanski Hall have been rescheduled to Wednesday, April 26.
The university said exams set to take place at Rozanski Hall at 2:30 p.m. would happen in alternate locations. Exams scheduled for Rozanski Hall at 7 p.m. will proceed in alternative locations. Instructors will notify students of the updated exam location.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.