Microsoft outage disrupts email for Simcoe County and Muskoka municipalities

A Microsoft outage disrupted email services for municipalities across Simcoe County and Muskoka on Thursday, affecting Barrie, Springwater, and Clearview, with staff working Friday to catch up on backlogs. Microsoft 365, Teams, and Outlook came back online, but intermittent issues persisted as queued emails processed. The Simcoe County District School Board and Georgian College were also affected, while Barrie Police, Lakehead University, and the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board avoided problems by not using Outlook. Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie experienced email downtime impacting administrative tasks, but patient care was unaffected. President Gail Hunt noted hospitals use emergency planning methods, including secure alternative communication systems. Microsoft apologized for the outage and resulting disruptions.