Spanish Flu arrived in Canada in 1918 — brought home by soldiers returning from the First World War.Fifty thousand Canadians died from the virus.There were widespread closures of businesses, places of worship and theatres but the closure of Ontario schools had a significant impact on students of all ages — from elementary to university.October 1918, attendance records from the Toronto Board of Education read: “Schools were closed by order of the Medical Officer of Health and remained closed continuously from Friday evening, Oct.