On September 30th, Canada observes an annual federal holiday dedicated to acknowledging the harm caused by the residential school system, paying tribute to survivors, and supporting affected families and communities. While Ontario and Quebec have chosen not to designate it as a provincial holiday, aligning with their treatment of other holidays like Remembrance Day, various changes are underway in Ottawa for the occasion.
The city will shutter its client service centers, employment and social service offices, municipal child-care centers, Site program, dental clinics, and sexual health centers on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the agriculture, aviation, history, science, and war museums will remain open and offer complimentary admission, with extended hours for the history and war museums until 7 p.m. Community events will be held at some museums.
Seven Ottawa Public Library branches will operate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., while LCBOs will open at noon. Federal government employees will have the day off, potentially impacting services like passports and service centers.
Schools will be open, waste collection will proceed as usual, and city recreation and cultural facilities, except for the galleries at city hall, will remain operational. OC Transpo and Para Transpo services will run on regular schedules. Notably, no road closures are planned for the national event on Parliament Hill scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
Shopping malls such as Bayshore, Rideau Centre, St. Laurent, Place d’Orléans, and Tanger Outlets have not altered their opening hours. The Canadian Museum of Nature will maintain its standard closure on Tuesdays, while the Beer Store, Ottawa Art Gallery, and many grocery stores plan to operate on regular schedules with no reported changes.
