Message Centre

With the winter season upon us, we’d like to remind our community about winter safety.

Snow removal

We have a comprehensive snow removal and ice management program in place across all campus locations to maintain safe, accessible conditions throughout the winter months. Weather conditions are continuously monitored to ensure access to all sites and buildings remains safe, and unimpeded by snow and ice.

While our teams work diligently, winter weather can still be unpredictable. To help keep you safe, we want to remind everyone to take extra care when travelling to and around campus.

Safety tips for winter walking

• If you feel yourself falling, try to relax your muscles, tuck your chin to your chest if falling backward and aim to land on a fleshy part of your body (like your side) rather than knees, wrists, or spine.
  
  
• Keep your hands free; avoid walking with hands in pockets.
  
  
• Remain alert and take your time when walking outdoors, especially during or shortly after snowfall, or freezing conditions.
  
  
• Step straight down off curbs rather than at an angle.
  
  
• Use caution when approaching walking surfaces; assume wet or dark pavement may be icy and slippery. Be aware of changes in walking surfaces.
  
  
• Use handrails whenever available (ramps, stairs, etc.).
  
  
• Use special care when entering and exiting vehicles; use the vehicle for support.
  
  
• Take slow, short, shuffling steps, point feet slightly outward, bend knees and keep your centre of gravity over your feet.
  
  
• Walk only on designated pathways or sidewalks.
  
  
• Wear appropriate winter footwear to improve traction.

Reporting hazards

If you observe a snow or ice hazard on campus, report it to Campus Security at ext. 2400 or 905.721.3211, and provide the exact location and situation.

Your safety is our priority. Thank you for your co-operation in helping us maintain a safe and accessible campus environment this winter.

Helpful internal links:

• Emergency Closure Policy
• Emergency Closure Procedures
• Winter safety on campus

Helpful external links:

• Durham Region Transit service alerts and detours
• Environment Canada weather forecasts for Ontario
• GO Transit service updates
• Ontario Ministry of Transportation winter driving information

Each winter in Ontario, weather conditions such as heavy snow, freezing rain and/or ice pellets can make basic travel difficult. During such situations, questions often arise about whether campus operations will change.

During most winter weather, the campus remains open and activities remain unaffected.

It’s important to keep in mind that different organizations—public and private—follow their own protocols and best practices. When they make the decision to cancel operations or to close, university operations and activities may remain scheduled as normal.

How the university communicates weather-related operational changes

If operational changes are implemented due to a winter storm warning or inclement conditions, the university will issue information as soon as possible using MyOntarioTech, the mobile app and the service disruptions page.

Depending on the situation, the university will also:

• Communicate via other means as needed, including messages sent to Ontario Tech student, faculty and staff email addresses, social media, and on-campus digital signage.

• Forward official university messages to regional newspapers and radio/television stations.

• Post full information about our campus status on our home page.

Travelling to campus

Monitor your email, the university’s mobile app, MyOntarioTech, and our website for late-evening and early-morning updates on severe winter weather days, or for class cancellations.

If you’re travelling to or from campus, allow for plenty of time, and travel with due caution and care, especially if you are in an area heavily affected by the weather. If you are in an area heavily affected by the weather and cannot get to campus, contact your supervisor or professor regarding your absence. 

Students, faculty and staff are reminded they are responsible for determining when weather conditions make their travel unsafe.

If you observe a snow or ice hazard on campus, report it to Campus Security at ext. 2400 or 905.721.3211, and provide the exact location and situation.

Helpful internal links:

• Emergency Closure Policy
• Emergency Closure Procedures
• Winter safety on campus

Helpful external links:

• Durham Region Transit service alerts and detours
• Environment Canada weather forecasts for Ontario
• GO Transit service updates
• Ontario Ministry of Transportation winter driving information

Parking permit sales for January 2026 will be available on the Interactive Parking Access Subscriber System website (IPASS) on Monday, December 8 at 10 a.m.

If you already have an annual parking permit valid September 2025 through to August 2026, no action is required.

Please note: Third-party providers manage all our parking. The purchasing process will depend on your lot location and availability. Once a lot is full, please select another option if available based on location. A waitlist will be created based on the time of registration and the chosen lot.

Winter semester passes - current permit holder gated lot:

• If you’re a current fall semester permit holder, you can request a winter semester pass through IPASS and enter the existing access card number for continued use upon approval. Otherwise, the fall semester pass expires on Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

• If you’re purchasing a winter semester parking permit, you must ensure the activation date on the IPASS application indicates Thursday, January 1, 2026.

Winter semester passes - current permit holder hang-tag lot: 

• Existing fall semester hang-tag holders can obtain a winter semester permit through IPASS. Upon approval, visit the Parking office with your existing hang tag (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) to have a new permit sticker applied to the hang-tag. Otherwise, the fall semester pass expires on Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

• If you’re purchasing a winter semester parking permit, you must ensure the activation date on the IPASS application indicates Thursday, January 1, 2026.

New users: 

• First time purchasers who require a winter semester or annual parking pass are required to register online through IPASS.

• If you’re purchasing a winter semester parking permit, you must ensure the activation date on the IPASS application indicates Thursday, January 1, 2026.

• Payment for parking permits can be made through the IPASS registration website by credit card or pre-authorized payment.

• You must use your student (ontariotechu.net) email address when registering.

• After completing the registration, an email will be sent within 48 hours from IPASS.

• The email response from IPASS will be:

  • An approval email with follow-up instructions.

  • A disapproval email due to non-institutional email on the application.

  • A disapproval email due to incorrect credit card or banking information.

  • A disapproval email due to full capacity reached in the requested lot. 

• In the instance of a disapproval email, re-submit your parking request through IPASS, making the appropriate correction.

• You should pick up your access card or hang tag prior to Friday, January 9 at the north Oshawa campus Parking office.

• Initial access cards will be provided at no charge. Replacement cards can be requested for $25.

Daily parking:

• Daily parking is available in two lots—pay-and-display or gated.

• The cost for daily parking is $5 per hour with a maximum of $18 per day.

• Tap debit and credit card payment is available at exit gates.

• Pay Stations accept cash, coins, debit and credit cards, and are located in the Founders 2 Lot (south-east corner) and Commencement Lot at the north Oshawa campus.

• Downtown daily and short-term parking is available for purchase through the Honk app or by scanning the QR code located in the lot at the designated parking areas.

Lots and rates - semester | year: 

• Charles Hall (downtown): $350 | $700

• Founders 2: $325 | $650

• Founders 4 (Campus Ice Centre): $300 | $600

• Founders 5 (north Campus Ice Centre): $200 | $400

• Commencement: $325 | $650

• Simcoe Village: $325 | $650

• Ball Diamond: $300 | $600

Contact:

• For information specific to the IPASS registration website, see the IPASS frequently asked questions or contact them directly. IPASS will respond to all questions submitted through this portal within 48 business hours.

• For general inquiries, contact Parking Services.

Help shape a more inclusive Ontario Tech by ompleteing our short five minute survey. This is confidential and a voluntary way to help us better understand our community and improve programs, services and policies for all students. Complete the EDI Survey.

Are you completing your program requirements at the end of the fall semester? The online application for Fall 2025 graduates will be available through your MyOntarioTech account from October 31 to December 31. 

Visit our Application to graduate page for more information.