What’s open and closed on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Friday, Sept. 30 is is the second annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in the country. 

The National Day of Truth and Reconciliation is a statutory holiday for federal government workers and federally regulated industries, but it is not a statutory holiday in the province of Ontario. 

Canada Post and banks will be closed, while schools, malls and grocery stores will be open with regular hours. 

LCBO stores will open at noon and close at their regular times. 

Some services will be operating on different schedules this Friday, Sept. 30, in recognition of Canada's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

“This day provides an opportunity to bring awareness to the painful legacy and impacts of the residential school system and advance our reconciliation efforts,” the City of Ottawa said in a memo. 

The following services will operate on different schedules on Friday, Sept. 30.

 Client Service Centres

• The City’s 3-1-1 Contact Centre will be open for urgent matters only. Please visit ottawa.ca/311 for more information.
• The Client Services Centres at Ottawa City Hall, Ben Franklin Place, 580 Terry Fox Drive, 255 Centrum Boulevard and the City’s Provincial Offences Court at 100 Constellation Drive will be closed.
• The Business Licensing Centre at 735 Industrial Avenue will be closed.

Green bin, recycling and garbage collection

• Curbside green bin, recycling, garbage or bulky item collection will take place as usual on Friday, Sept. 30.
• Multi-residential garbage and recycling containers, green bin and bulky item collection will take place as usual on Friday, Sept. 30.
• The Trail Waste Facility will be open on Friday, Sept. 30.

 Parking

• All City parking regulations and restrictions apply.

Transit service

• OC Transpo bus service, O-Train Line 1 service, and O-Train Line 2 bus service will operate on a weekday schedule. Use OC Transpo’s Travel Planner to plan your trip.
• OC Transpo Customer Service (613-560-5000) will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• OC Transpo’s Rideau Centre Customer Service Centre will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can book an appointment in advance using OC Transpo’s Virtual Line. 
  • All other OC Transpo Customer Service Centres are currently closed.
• OC Transpo Lost and Found (Heartwood House) will be closed on Friday, Sept. 30.

• For Para Transpo Services:
  • Para Transpo will operate on regular service on Friday, Sept. 30.
  • Regular bookings on Friday, Sept. 30, are not automatically cancelled.
  • Customers can book trips for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation starting on Friday, Sept. 23, by using My Para Transpo or calling 613-560-5000.
  • The Taxi Coupon phone line will be closed.
  • The reservations phone line will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., while the trip information and cancellation line will be open from 6 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.

For more information on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation transit service, visit octranspo.com or call 613-560-5000. 

Recreation and cultural services

• Some indoor pools, arenas as well as recreation and fitness centres will operate on modified schedules. Please check ottawa.ca for details.
• Please note that some regular public swims may be cancelled on short notice due to a shortage of lifeguards. It is recommended you confirm by checking with the facility before leaving home.
• Most art centres and museums will be closed on Friday, Sept. 30. Please check with the centre or museum directly for details.
• City Hall Art Gallery and Karsh-Masson Gallery will be closed on Friday, Sept. 30.
• Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe will be closed on Friday, Sept. 30.
• The City of Ottawa Archives, Barbara Ann Scott Gallery and Gallery 112 will be closed on Friday, Sept. 30.

 Ottawa Public Health

• Visit the OPH COVID-19 Vaccine page for vaccination clinic hours and availability.
• Visit the OPH COVID-19 Testing page for testing centre and care clinic hours and availability.
• The Ottawa Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine Booking Line will be closed on Friday, Sept. 30.
• The Sexual Health Clinic and satellite clinics will be closed.
• The Site program office and supervised consumption services at 179 Clarence Street will be closed. The Site mobile van will operate from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
• The Ottawa Public Health Information Centre and COVID-19 Information Line will be closed.
• Dental clinics will be closed.
• The Parenting-In-Ottawa drop-ins will be closed.

Community and Social Services

The Bernard Grandmaître respite centre at 309 McArthur Avenue will be closed on Friday, Sept. 30.

Municipal child care services

• All municipal child care centres will be closed.

Library Services

• Some Ottawa Public Library branches will be open on Friday, Sept. 30. To see if your branch is open, or to explore virtual services, loans and programs, visit Ottawa Public Library website.

Residents are also reminded that Highway 417 is scheduled to close from Metcalfe to Carling around 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 30 to 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 4.