Victoria Day long weekend: What’s open and closed in Ottawa?

The Victoria Day long weekend is upon us, and for the first time in two years, we can enjoy the unofficial start to summer almost completely free of COVID-19 public safety measures.

Most attractions are open this time around the Canadian Tulip Festival is in full swing and there will be fireworks held at Commissioners Park on Sunday, May 22. 

There are also some schedule changes and closures to be aware of around the nation's capital. 

Retail and attractions:

Most grocery stores are closed on Monday, May 23, with some exceptions:

• The Metro on Bank Street is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• The Whole Foods at Lansdowne is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• The Loblaws on Rideau Street is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 
• The Loblaws on Isabella Street is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Shops and restaurants in the ByWard Market and Lansdowne are permitted to open, along with most Ottawa museums and the National Gallery of Canada.

Malls are closed Monday, with the exception of the Rideau Centre which is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On the Quebec side, Les Galleries de Hull, Les Promenades de l'Outaouais and Costco are open.

Many drug stores remain open on Monday.

LCBO locations are closed, while some Wine Rack locations are open. Select The Beer Store  locations across the province will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. — three are located in Ottawa:

• Ottawa – 1860 Bank St.
• Ottawa – 1984 Baseline Rd.
• Ottawa – 548 Montreal Rd. 

 

City of Ottawa schedule changes:

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.

 
Green bin, recycling and garbage collection:

• There will be no curbside green bin, recycling, garbage or bulky item collection on Monday. Collection scheduled for Monday will be collected on Tuesday. Collection will be delayed by one day for the entire week.
• Multi-residential garbage containers will be collected on the regular scheduled day. Multi-residential recycling container and green bin collection will also be delayed the following week by one day for the remainder of the week.
• The Trail Waste Facility will be open on Monday.

 
Parking:

• All overtime parking, signed or unsigned, are not being enforced on residential streets. All other parking restrictions are in effect.

 
Transit:

• OC Transpo bus service and O-Train Line 1 will operate on a Sunday schedule on Monday.
• On Monday, the whole family can ride all day for $11.00 on a single DayPass. Purchase your Family DayPass at any ticket machine or from your bus operator. A family can be made up of as many as six people, with a maximum of two aged 13 or older.
• New this year: children aged seven and under ride for no charge every day.
• OC Transpo Customer Service (613-560-5000) will be open on Monday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• OC Transpo's Rideau Centre Customer Service Centre will be closed on Monday.
• All other OC Transpo Customer Service Centres are currently closed.
• Heartwood House (OC Transpo Lost and Found) will be closed on Monday.

Para Transpo operations:

• Para Transpo will operate on a holiday service on Monday.
• Regular bookings on Monday are automatically cancelled.
• Customers can book trips for these dates one week prior by calling 613-560-5000 or using the online web form.
• The reservations line will remain open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., while the trip cancellation line will be open from 6 am to 12:30 a.m.
• The Taxi Coupon line will remain open.

For more information on Victoria Day service, visit octranspo.com or call (613) 560-5000.

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 open on Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• 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 Baby Help Line will be returning calls (open).

Community and Social Services:

• The Tom Brown respite centre at 141 Bayview Station Road will be closed on Monday.
• The Bernard Grandmaître respite centre at 309 McArthur Avenue will be closed on Monday.

Municipal child care services:

• All municipal child care centres will be closed.

Library Services

• All Ottawa Public Library branches will be closed on Monday. Virtual services, loans and programs can be accessed on the Ottawa Public Library website.