‘Tis the season for ice and snow! Winter weather is here and it’s time to prepare for colder commutes and slippery sidewalks. Learn how to stay safe and up-to-date on campus conditions.

Campus closures

Douglas College continuously monitors the weather and makes decisions about campus operations with the safety of students and employees as our primary consideration. 

If weather takes a turn for the worse and a campus closure seems likely, Douglas will inform the College community prior to 6:30am for morning and afternoon closures and 2:30pm for evening closures. 

The College website homepage is the best source for up-to-date information. Information is also available from the College information line (toll free 1 877 679 0823) and DC Alerts. DC Alerts subscribers get rapid campus closure updates sent via text, email and/or phone messages. Douglas College students automatically receive these alerts through their College email address; if you want to receive alerts to a different address or to a phone number, sign up for DC Alerts now. 

When the campus is closed, you should check your College email and/or Blackboard to determine the status of your in-person classes, as they may move online or be cancelled. Online classes will continue as scheduled. 

Campus buildings will remain open; however, all in-person services including, but not limited to, food, library, Bookstore and Enrolment Services will be unavailable. Some student services may be available at reduced levels online, and you are encouraged to check with individual service areas if you have a pre-scheduled appointment during the time of the closure.

What happens if the College is open but I’m unable to travel due to severe weather conditions in my area?  

Douglas College serves a large and diverse geographic area. We make decisions based on the impacts to the largest portion of our population. But we understand this will never include every student or employee. It is the responsibility of each individual to make decisions about what is safe for them. If this means you are unable to travel to class, please notify your instructor as soon as possible. 

Instructors have been requested to consider weather conditions when making decisions about attendance during winter weather. Ultimately, these decisions are at the sole discretion of individual instructors.

Sidewalk conditions

 The College takes all precautions to ensure our campuses are safe. We will be keeping sidewalks and pathways on campus clear of snow and will apply salt to help melt any ice. If you feel sidewalk conditions on campus are unsafe, please contact the appropriate campus:  

New Westminster Campus: facilities_nw@douglascollege.ca  
Coquitlam Campus: facilitiescoq@douglascollege.ca  

We understand sidewalks off campus can be treacherous when icy. Keeping city sidewalks clear is the responsibility of local businesses. If you feel sidewalk conditions are unsafe, please contact the appropriate city:  

City of New Westminster: 604 519 2010 or parking@newwestcity.ca  
City of Coquitlam: Snow Response Request

Winter weather preparedness tips

• Allow extra time to get to campus (whether by car, bus, SkyTrain, etc.)  
• Wear appropriate footwear and winter clothing, especially if regularly moving between the New Westminster Campus and the Anvil Office Tower. 
• If driving, use caution, and ensure you have winter tires that are in good condition. 
• If walking, use caution and consider driving conditions while watching for vehicles (even at crosswalks). 
• If taking transit, ensure you check your route before travelling to campus. TransLink posts service outages and updates on their website. You can also create a Transit Alerts Account to be notified by text message and/or email about disruptions, updates, or changes to the transit services you use.