Canada Day is celebrated annually on July 1 as people across Ontario and the country mark the occasion in many different ways.
This year, the holiday falls on a Tuesday.
That’s when people will gather across the country to celebrate Canada’s 158th birthday, and many towns and cities will be hosting events to mark the occasion. While residents across Ontario can expect fireworks, live music, food and more, many facilities that are typically open will be closed
Here’s what’s open and closed in southern Ontario towns and cities on Canada Day this coming Tuesday, July 1:
Mississauga
On Tuesday, Erin Mills Town Centre, Heartland Town Centre, Dixie Outlet Mall, Sherwood Village (also known as Sheridan Mall/Sheridan Centre) and Meadowvale Town Centre will be closed. Banks, libraries, community centres, and non-emergency government offices (all levels) will also be closed, as will all LCBO locations and most Beer Store locations except for stores located at 2458 Dundas St. W., 5800 McLaughlin Rd. and 1550 Dundas St. E.
There will be no waste collection on July 1 (it will be collected one day later) and Peel Community Recycling Centres are closed.
As for what’s open, residents can visit Square One Shopping Centre (along with the Walmart Supercentre, Whole Foods, and The Food District), Rabba grocery stores, T&T Supermarket, most Shoppers Drug Mart locations, most restaurants that are typically open on Tuesdays, Celebration Square and splash pads.
Commuters should note that MiWay will operate on a regular Sunday schedule and some routes will not operate due to low customer demand. GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule.
TransHelp: to travel on Tuesday, July 1 and Wednesday, July 2, you must call 905-791-1015 and book by 7 p.m. on Monday, June 30. On July 1, TransHelp will operate from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. and the TransHelp office will be closed
Mississauga’s downtown core, particularly Celebration Square and the Living Arts Centre, will be brimming with activity on Canada Day. Celebrations begin at 4 p.m. and continue till 10:30 p.m., capped off by the annual fireworks show. Personal fireworks are permitted in Mississauga on Canada Day without a permit between dusk and 11 p.m.
Brampton
On Canada Day, Shoppers World, most major grocery stores, City Hall, banks, libraries, federal and provincial non-emergency services, non-emergency Region of Peel services, the Brampton Animal Shelter, the Brampton On Stage Box Office, Brampton Transit facilities (including Lost and Found) and community recycling centres will be closed.
Non-emergency government services and schools will also be closed.
Garbage will not be picked up on Canada Day and Canada Post will not operate (no mail pickup or delivery). All LCBO and most Beer Store locations (save for Beer Stores located at 198 Queen St. E., 180 Sandalwood Pkwy. and 80 Peel Centre Dr.) will be closed.
Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA) will also be closed.
As for fireworks, Canada Day is one of a few days every year when the City of Brampton sets off a fireworks display. Only the film industry and the City are allowed to apply for permits to use fireworks in Brampton under the new bylaw that prohibits personal use of fireworks.
As for what’s open, Brampton residents can visit Bramalea City Centre, restaurants, cafes and bars (but should call ahead to be sure), most pharmacies (including most Shoppers Drug Mart locations) and Rabba grocery stores. Parks and trails will be open, as will some recreation centres.
The Wet’n’Wild water park is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Commuters should note that Brampton Transit will operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule on July 1. Customer Service counters are closed. GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule.
Halton – Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills
On July 1, a number of places will be closed, including banks, city/town halls, Canada Post, most Halton Region offices and services (although all 24-hour/essential services remain open), community centres, seniors’ centres, indoor pools, arenas and libraries, LCBO locations, the Mattamy National Cycling Centre, Milton Mall, Burlington Centre, Mapleview Mall, Oakville Place, harbour offices, Oakville cemetery offices and Oakville fire administration.
There will be no garbage pickup on July 1. Pickup will be one day later in Halton for the week.
As for what’s open, residents can visit local parks and certain outdoor recreational amenities, most Shoppers Drug Marts (but call ahead to be sure), most restaurants that are typically open on Tuesdays for dine-in, takeout and delivery (but make sure to call ahead), some smaller grocery stores, such as Rabba grocery stores, select Beer Stores (2025 Guelph Line and 5051 New St. in Burlington; 290 Hays Blvd. in Oakville) and select Wine Rack locations (Fortinos at 173 Lakeshore Rd. W. in Oakville). In Burlington, the Nelson Pool and Splash Park, Mountainside Pool and Splash Park, and LaSalle Wading Pool and Splash Park are open for swimming, weather permitting. Outdoor pools in Oakville will also be open, except Brookdale.
Residents can also visit splash pads, Conservation Halton parks, Toronto Premium Outlets and most Starbucks and Tim Hortons cafes.
Transit:
Oakville Transit will be offering its holiday service schedule from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Burlington Transit will operate on a Sunday schedule, Milton Transit will not operate and GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule.
Hamilton
On Canada Day, several facilities will be closed, including CF Lime Ridge, Eastgate Square, libraries, recreation centres and arenas, banks, LCBO locations, a number of Beer Store locations (seven stores are open; click on Hamilton link above for locations), government offices (all levels), the Hamilton Farmers’ Market, most museums, Animal Services, the Tropical Greenhouse at Gage Park, COVID vaccine clinics and non-emergency municipal services.
There will be no green bin, blue box, yard waste, garbage or bulk garbage pickup on Canada Day (pickup is one day later). Community Recycling Centres will also be closed.
As for what’s open, residents can visit local parks, splash pads, beaches, outdoor pools, Hamilton Conservation Authority areas and trails, some smaller grocery stores and most Shoppers Drug Mart locations, Wild Waterworks, the Dundurn National Historic Site at 5 p.m. for the presentation of the Canada Day Military Tattoo, some restaurants, bars and cafes (call ahead to be sure), and municipal golf courses.
For transit, HSR will operate on a Sunday schedule. Routes that do not normally run on Sundays will not operate. However, the 18 Waterdown Mountaineer and Waterdown MyRide will be running.
Trans-Cab service will align with HSR Sunday schedules. Service between Countrywide Recycling and the Twenty at Nebo transfer point will not be running. GO Transit will operate on a Saturday schedule.
Hamilton is celebrating Canada Day at Bayfront Park (200 Harbourfront Dr.). The free party will feature fireworks, inflatables, a food truck rally and live entertainment.
Personal fireworks are permitted on July 1.
Durham – Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, Clarington
On Canada Day, Pickering Town Centre, Oshawa Centre, LCBO locations, most Beer Store locations (save for select locations in Ajax, Oshawa, Pickering and Whitby), Pickering Museum Village, Service Oshawa, banks, libraries, town and city halls, non-emergency government services (all levels), courts and most municipal recreation centres will be closed.
Canada Post will also be closed.
Garbage and recycling pickup days will be one day later than usual.
Non-emergency government services and schools will be closed on the holiday.
As for what’s open, most restaurants that are typically open on Tuesdays will be operating, but call ahead to be sure. The Wine Rack in the Independent Grocery outlet at 1893 Scugog St. in Port Perry will be open, as will the Independent Grocery store. Most Shoppers Drug Marts will be open. Residents can also visit casinos in Pickering, Ajax and Scugog and many cannabis dispensaries.
Many craft beer breweries will be open, including Town Brewery in Whitby and Old Flame in Port Perry.
Lakeview Park Beach in Oshawa will be open (lifeguards will be on duty), as will most other public beaches. Camp Samac’s outdoor pool in Oshawa and Ajax Memorial’s outdoor pool will also be open as will Orono Park pool. Parks and most splash pads will be open as well.
For transit, GO trains, DRT and Pulse buses will be running on a holiday/weekend schedule.
There will be sanctioned fireworks displays in Oshawa (Lakeview Park), Ajax Downs, Pickering (Kinsmen Park), Port Perry (Palmer Park), Whitby (Victoria Fields), Uxbridge (Elgin Park) and Bowmanville (Garnett Rickard Recreation Complex).
Residents can purchase fireworks for private celebrations in each municipality.
Niagara Region – Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, St. Catharines, Welland
Most of Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake businesses remain open as both the city and the town are designated as tourism destinations and thus can remain open on federal or provincial holidays. The other 10 municipalities in Niagara, including St. Catharines and Welland, are mostly shut down.
On Canada Day, closures will include all city and town halls, federal, provincial and municipal government offices, non-emergency Niagara region services, most major grocery stores, the Pen Centre in St. Catharines (Landmark Cinemas are open), Fairview Mall in St. Catharines, Briarfield Shopping Centre in St. Catharines, Pendale Plaza in St. Catharines, Seaway Mall in Welland, SmartCentres in Welland and St. Catharines, community centres and libraries, banks, Canada Post and all LCBO and Beer Store locations.
Also, there will be no garbage pickup on July 1. Collection will take place one day later than usual.
As for what’s open, residents can visit Canada One in Niagara Falls, Outlet Collection at Niagara in Niagara-on-the-Lake, some smaller grocery stores such as Rabba, most wineries and breweries (but call ahead to be sure), multiple Wine Rack locations, most restaurants, bars and cafes that are typically open on Tuesdays, most Shoppers Drug Mart locations, movie theatres and most tourist attractions.
For transit, GO Transit will operate on a Saturday schedule. Transit services in St. Catharines, Welland and Niagara Falls will operate on holiday hours.
Toronto
Many people will flock to Canada’s biggest city to celebrate this year, and most local and nearby tourist attractions will be open as a result.
On Canada Day, residents and visitors can check out the Eaton Centre, CF Markville, Hillcrest Mall, Whole Foods Yorkville, Summerhill Market, Eataly, AGO, Ripley’s Aquarium, Toronto Zoo, Canada’s Wonderland, ROM, Casa Loma, CN Tower, Aga Khan Museum and some Beer Stores (check specific locations for hours).
A few notable locations/services will be closed, however, including Canada Post, banks, LCBO locations, libraries, shops at Don Mills, Sherway Gardens, Fairview Mall, Dufferin Mall, Scarborough Town Centre, Yorkdale, Gerrard Square and the St. Lawrence Market. All non-emergency government offices will also be closed.
Garbage pickup will not be affected.
Commuters should note that TTC will operate on a holiday schedule and GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule.
Fireworks displays will start at 10 p.m. at Ashbridges Bay, Centennial Park (Etobicoke), Milliken Park, Mel Lastman Square, Harbourfront Centre, Amesbury Park and Stan Wadlow Park.
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