Snow threatens Quebec schools

SHAWINIGAN, Quebec, March 18 (UPI) -- A Quebec province school was evacuated Monday after heavy snow on the roof cracked a gymnasium ceiling, authorities said.

Nearly 300 students were sent home from Saint-Paul de Shawinigan school, the Canadian Broadcast Corp. reported. In addition to the ceiling cracks, several doors were not closing properly because of structural stress, the CBC reported.

Meanwhile, more than 90,000 Montreal children had the day off Monday after the city school board ordered all of its buildings closed because of heavy snow buildup.

Four Canadians have died in roof collapses in the past week -- three women at a grocery warehouse and a man whose house roof fell on him.