What's open and closed on Victoria Day 2024

CBC
·3 min read
People pose for photos among the tulips in Ottawa's Commissioner's Park on May 4, 2024. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press - image credit)
People pose for photos among the tulips in Ottawa's Commissioner's Park on May 4, 2024. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press - image credit)

The Victoria Day long weekend — or May Two-Four, as it's known by some — marks the beginning of the summer season for many Canadians.

The federal holiday on Monday means most businesses and public facilities won't be open, barring a few exceptions.

Here's a look at what's open and closed in Ottawa on Victoria Day this Monday, May 20.

Retail

  • Certain areas of the city, such as the Glebe and ByWard Market, can open stores on holidays under the province's Retail Business Holidays Act if they want. This also applies to grocery stores.

  • The Rideau Centre and Tanger Outlets will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

  • Bayshore Shopping Centre, St. Laurent Shopping Centre and Place d'Orléans will be closed.

Groceries

  • Most grocery stores in the city will be closed, but there are a few exceptions in places under the act mentioned above.

Alcohol

  • All LCBOs and most Beer Stores will be closed.

  • Three Beer Store locations will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: 1860 Bank St., 1984 Baseline Rd. and 548 Montreal Rd.

Parking and transit 

  • All City of Ottawa parking regulations and restrictions will apply.

  • Para Transpo will operate on a holiday service, with regular bookings automatically cancelled. The reservation line is open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and the cancellations and information line, from 6 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.

  • The taxi coupon line will remain open.

  • The OC Transpo customer service line will operate from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

  • OC Transpo's Rideau Centre customer service centre will be open.

Ottawa's Hurdman light rail station around sunrise one morning in May 2024.
Ottawa's Hurdman light rail station around sunrise one morning in May 2024.

Ottawa's Hurdman LRT station around sunrise one morning earlier this month. Under Sunday service, the Confederation Line runs roughly from 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (CBC)

Recreation

  • Most city art centres, theatres, galleries, archives and museums will be closed. Les Lye Studio Theatre will be open for a rehearsal.

  • The National Gallery of Canada and agriculture, aviation, history, nature, science and war museums are open.

  • The Ottawa Art Gallery is closed.

  • Splash pads will open on May 18. If weather delays the opening, it will be posted to the City of Ottawa website.

  • Washrooms will open at Mooney's Bay, Britannia Beach, and Petrie Island — if water quality permits — on May 18.

City services

  • There will be no garbage, recycling, green bin or bulky item collection. Pick up will resume on Tuesday and collection will be delayed by one day for the rest of the week.

  • Ottawa City Hall and client service centres at Ben Franklin Place, 580 Terry Fox Dr. and 255 Centrum Blvd. will be closed.

  • The provincial court at 100 Constellation Dr. will also be closed.

  • The city's 311 contact centre will be open for urgent matters.

  • The Trail Road Waste Facility will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • All branches and services of the Ottawa Public Library will be closed. Digital content will still be available through its website.

Health, dental, and child care services

  • The Sexual Health Clinic and satellite clinics will be closed.

  • The Health811 line will be open.

  • City child-care centres will be closed. The Parenting-In-Ottawa drop-ins will be closed.

  • The city's dental clinics will be closed.

  • The Site program office and supervised consumption services at 179 Clarence St. will be closed. The Site Mobile Van will operate from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.