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.
A Campus Fire Safety vehicle on scene at the University of Guelph on April 24, 2023. (Krista Sharpe/CTV Kitchener)
“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
Lanny McDonald and a few old Flames take the Stanley Cup on a surprise visit to the man who saved his life
The Stanley Cup was passing through town Friday, and Lanny Legend took it upon himself to take it for a surprise visit.
Bathroom break nearly derails $22 million project at city council meeting
A brief break during Wednesday's city council meeting in Saskatoon nearly cost the city dearly.
Chad Daybell sentenced to death for killing wife and girlfriend’s two children in jury decision
Jurors resumed deliberations Saturday on whether a man should be sentenced to death after being convicted days earlier of the murders of his wife and his girlfriend’s two youngest children in Idaho.
Robert Pickton stabbed with toothbrush and broken broom handle: victim's family
The family of one of Robert Pickton's victims says the convicted serial killer suffered an incredibly violent death at the hands of another inmate.
Father who killed one-year-old son with axe may be allowed to travel in southwestern Ontario
A Mennonite father who killed his one-year-old son with an axe may be allowed to travel to parts of southern Ontario in the coming months
'It feels like freedom': Why some Albertans like going nude in nature
Few people can say they accidentally purchased a nude beach — but Shelley can. When she saw a piece of land she could fondly remember camping on was up for sale, she inquired about it and ended up purchasing it. She soon found that there were already inhabitants on it.
This Calgary home has a giant tree in the middle, and it's for sale
There's a luxury 'tree home' for sale in Calgary.
China lands spacecraft on the moon amid growing space rivalry with U.S.
A Chinese spacecraft landed on the far side of the moon Sunday to collect soil and rock samples that could provide insights into differences between the less-explored region and the better-known near side.
Pedestrian dies after being hit by train in Brockville, Ont.
Brockville Police says a pedestrian has died following a collision with a train that was heading to Toronto.