Vancouver has been hit with yet another snowstorm today. The city is expected to be hit with up to 15 cm of snow this weekend, and today on February 22, it has already started coming down hard. The winter weather is causing dangerous driving conditions and commutes in certain parts of Metro Vancouver. Despite this, Simon Fraser University in Burnaby is remaining open and students and staff are now fearing for their safety.
READ ALSO: Expect Transit Delays And Slippery Commutes As Vancouver Gets Hit By Up To 15 Cm Of Snow This Weekend
Simon Fraser University is located on a mountain in the Vancouver area. The school is known for getting lots of snow during storms due to its elevation and location. Locals are aware that the university can get more intense winter weather than some other places in the city due to its higher elevation.
Unsurprisingly, the winter weather has caused significant transit delays to the university. Translink announced on their Twitter that there were delays of up to 45 minutes on public buses to SFU due to the road conditions. Despite all this, the university announced in a tweet that they would be staying open.
READ ALSO: U Of T Students Feared For Their Safety This Morning When The School Remained Open During The Storm
This has caused outrage amongst both SFU students and staff who are expected to make their way up the mountain to the university today in the midst of the snowy weather conditions. Many are worried about their safety.
For reference, this is what it looks like at SFU today. One person even said they weren't sure how they would "make it off the mountain" in their car.
Ok Weather ppl, when is this going to stop @sfu ❄❄❄☃️@globalbcweather @NEWS1130Weather @CTVVancouver pic.twitter.com/uDATiign79
Via MindBodySoulLindsay | Instagram
Simon Fraser University announced on their Twitter less than one hour ago that classes would not be cancelled and all of their campuses would remain open today. Check out the tweet below.
All campuses remain open. Snow is forecasted to stop shortly–plows are working to clear the roads. If you do not have snow tires please stay safe and delay travel until later this P.M. Snow later today is expected to be minimal, and conditions should improve for transit and cars.
SFU students and staff are outraged and worried about their safety. Many have taken to Twitter to voice their worries about the unsafe commuting conditions. Several SFU students and staff commute to work, and attempting to go up a mountain during a snowstorm can be unsafe and dangerous.
Check out what SFU students and staff had to say below about the school remaining open despite the snowy, icy conditions.
WHOEVER WROTE THIS TWEET - ARE YOU CURRENTLY ON CAMPUS? IT IS SNOWING LIKE CRAZY. ROADS ARE COVERED IN SNOW. CARS/BUSES ARE STUCK. SFU DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS/EMPLOYEES. TERRIBLE MANAGEMENT.
Hi @SFU thank you for passing the responsability of my safety, as an SFU employee, to get home onto @TransLink
If you cared about the health and well-being of students, staff and faculty you would close the Burnaby campus right now due to snow. But you don't, so you won't. #SFU
@SFU why. Just close please. Have some regard for the safety of staff. Please make the ethical choice. #sfu #peopleoverprofits https://t.co/SQ2zDKfmbz
No. Snow is thick and steady again for the past half an hour just here in New Westminster-Burnaby, and freezing and slick accumulations are causing stuck cars and spinning and sliding vehicles.
Close already, @SFU. Are are you all a bunch of sadists in SFU Admin. who enjoy punishing staff? #SFU #RiderAlert https://t.co/W5qXgNH8V9
@SFU so what are we supposed to do if we don't own a car, the buses aren't running, and we are scheduled to come to work later today? Are you telling us we shouldn't come and can wait, or should we go to MEC, rent some snowshoes and hike up the hill?
@sfu @FICnews What about students in FIC ? Please consider their safety. Just because it's reading break, doesn't mean everyone is away. There are still staffs and students here.
Despite the backlash, SFU remains open and the university has not indicated that it will be closing at all today.
Parts of Metro Vancouver may become a mess today due to the snowy weather conditions. Environment Canada has even issued a snowfall alert for Vancouver. Public transit has also been delayed all over Metro Vancouver, according to Translink's Twitter.
Stay safe out there, Vancouverites!
*Disclaimer: This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.