Thanksgiving Monday closures affect transit, stores and services across Canada
Public transit will run on holiday schedules, while most retail stores and municipal services are closed.
Thanksgiving Monday is a statutory holiday across much of Canada, leading to widespread closures for retail, municipal services and garbage collection. Public transit systems in major cities will operate on holiday schedules, and most grocery stores and shopping malls will be closed for the day. The holiday also affects recreation centres, libraries and city contact centres, with many offering only urgent services. In the Halifax area, major grocery chains including Sobeys, Walmart, Atlantic Superstore and Costco will be closed. The Halifax Shopping Centre, Mic Mac Mall and Sunnyside Mall will also be shut. Halifax Transit buses and the Alderney ferry will run on holiday schedules, with the first ferry departing the Alderney terminal at 7:30 a.m. AT and the last trip leaving the Halifax terminal at 11:45 p.m. There will be no garbage, organics or recyclables collection, and the Otter Lake Waste Management Facility will be closed.
Most municipally operated recreation facilities in Halifax will be closed, though the Sackville Sports Stadium is an exception. On-street paid parking will be free, and the city's 311 contact centre will be closed for full-service requests, accepting only urgent calls. Regular operations for 311 will resume on Tuesday. In Ottawa, OC Transpo bus and O-Train service will run on a Sunday schedule. O-Train Line 1 will operate from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., while Lines 2 and 4 will run from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. The city urged commuters to plan ahead using its Travel Planner or Transit app. OC Transpo is offering a "2-for-1 DayPass" for Thanksgiving weekend, allowing two riders unlimited trips all day for $12.25.
Regular Para Transpo bookings for Monday are automatically cancelled, but customers can book trips by calling 613-560-5000 or using My Para Transpo. The reservation phone line will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Most Ottawa grocery stores will be closed, though some select locations may remain open. The LCBO and Beer Stores will be closed all day. The Rideau Centre will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Tanger Outlets will also be open, while other malls are set to close. There will be no curbside green bin, garbage or recycling pickup on Monday, with collection delayed by one day for the rest of the week. Select city pools, arenas and fitness complexes will operate on a modified schedule, but most recreation and community centres will be closed.
City-operated museums, galleries, Ben Franklin Place, Shenkman Arts Centre, and the Nepean Creative and Visual Arts Centres will be closed in Ottawa. All four Employment and Social Services offices and all municipal child care centres will also be shut. The Ottawa 311 Contact Centre will be open for urgent matters only, and residents can submit requests online. ServiceOttawa’s Client Services counters and phone lines will be closed. The Site mobile van will be open from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., while the Sexual Health Clinic, Dental clinics, Parenting-In-Ottawa drop-ins and satellite clinics will be closed. All branches of the Ottawa Public Library will be closed on Monday, reopening with regular hours on Tuesday. In broader regions, most retailers in New Brunswick and Ontario will be closed for Thanksgiving Monday.
With files from CBC News, CityNews and Your Saint John