Seven Area Schools Affected By Hold And Secure States In One Day

Manhunt in Bradford, Weapons Incident in Orillia Affected Nearby Schools

Lots of excitement for students at a few area schools today, with a Hold & Secure state issued for seven schools in Bradford and Orillia.

A police investigation that started in Barrie led officers with South Simcoe Police to help search for a suspect in Bradford, leading to a hold and secure being issued as a precaution for first Chris Hadfield Secondary, then St. Angela Merici Catholic. W.H. Day Elementary was put into a Hold and Secure later in the afternoon.


It was lifted for the first two after about an hour’s time. The Hold and Secure at W.H. Day lasted until the end of the school day for students. Barrie Police say a suspect was taken into custody at a home on Romanelli Crescent.


In Orillia, the OPP responded to a weapons incident on Matchedash Street around 2:00 this afternoon, leading to a hold and secure at Orillia Secondary, Twin Lakes, Orcard Park Public, and Lions Oval Public. Investigators say several people were involved in an altercation, with one person reportedly using an edged weapon in the fight. Two men and a woman were found to be suffering minor wounds on scene and refused medical treatment. A 31-year-old Toronto man has since been charged.


A Hold and Secure state is a precautionary measure taken by schools to protect students from outside events. Students and staff are safe, while the doors are locked; no one can enter or exit the school, but activities continue as normal inside.

Today’s events were complicated by the fact that Chris Hadfield Secondary and Orillia Secondary are polling stations in today’s provincial election, causing delays for anyone waiting to cast a ballot.