Boxing Day in Ontario cities: What’s Open & Closed

Open:

On Dec. 26, residents can visit all major shopping malls (Toronto Premium Outlets, Oakville Place, Mapleview Mall, Milton Mall, Burlington Shopping Centre, etc), major grocery and retail stores, most cafes, restaurants and bars (call ahead just in case), select Beer Stores (2025 Guelph Line and 5051 New Street in Burlington, 1071 Maple Avenue in Milton and 290 Hays Boulevard in Oakville), local parks and outdoor recreational amenities, select Wine Rack locations, Conservation Halton parks and movie theatres.

Closed:

Non-essential federal, provincial, regional and municipal offices will be closed, along with banks, libraries, community centres, some indoor pools, arenas, seniors’ centres, the Mattamy National Cycling Centre and Canada Post (no mail pick-up or delivery).

Waste collection will depend on where you live.

Oakville Transit and Burlington Transit will be operating, whereas Milton Transit will not. GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule.

Durham Region – Oshawa, Whitby, Pickering, Ajax, Clarington and other municipalities

Open:

On Boxing Day, most major malls (Pickering Town Centre, Oshawa Town Centre, etc.) will be open, along with major grocery stores and big-box and independent retailers. Most cafes, restaurants and bars will be open, but call ahead to confirm. Residents can also visit drug stores and pharmacies, select Beer Store locations (75 Kingston Road in Ajax, 195 King Street E. in Bowmanville, 1355 Kingston Road in Pickering, 3950 Brock St. N. in Whitby and 200 Ritson Road N. in Oshawa), most cannabis stores and most local breweries (call ahead).

Closed:

All non-essential federal, provincial, regional and municipal government offices will be closed, along with banks, Canada Post, community centres, libraries and LCBO locations.

GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule, and DRT Pulse buses will be running on a reduced holiday schedule.

Garbage, blue box and recycling schedules will be pushed ahead one day and transfer stations will be closed.

Hamilton

Open

On Dec. 26, major and independent retailers and shopping malls (including Limeridge Mall) will be open, along with most cafes, restaurants and bars (call ahead), drug stores and pharmacies, most major grocery stores, convenience stores, parks, trails and outdoor skating rinks, and select Beer Store locations (282 Parkdale Ave. N, 1111 Barton St. E, 150 Barton St. E., 673 Upper James Street, 959 Fennell Ave. E. and 75 Centennial Parkway N.). Most breweries will be open (call ahead), along with select Wine Rack locations, Splitsville Entertainment and movie theatres.

Closed 

Non-essential federal, provincial and municipal government offices will be closed, along with banks, Canada Post, the Hamilton Farmers’ Market, libraries, civic museums, community centres, the Gage Park Greenhouse and the Fieldcote Memorial Park & Museum.

Waste and recycling collection will be pushed back one day

HSR buses will operate a special holiday schedule with limited service and GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule.

Niagara Region – Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Lincoln, Welland and other municipalities

Open:

On Boxing Day, major malls (Canada One, The Outlet Collection, The Pen Centre, etc) will be open, along with other big-box and independent retailers. Major grocery stores will be open, as will select Wine Rack and Beer Store locations (Niagara Falls – 6757 Lundy’s Lane, St. Catharines – 99 Dieppe Rd. and 120 Welland Ave. and Welland – 390 Lincoln St. E.). Most breweries and wineries will be open (call ahead), along with cafes, restaurants and bars. Drug stores, pharmacies, movie theatres and most tourist attractions (including those on Clifton Hill) will be open.

Closed

All non-essential federal, provincial and municipal/regional government offices, including all city and town halls, will be closed, along with banks, libraries, community centres, Canada Post (no mail pick up or delivery) and Community Recycling Centres.

Garbage and recycling will not be impacted by Boxing Day, but will be pushed a day due to Christmas Day (Dec. 25).

Niagara Transit will offer conventional bus service in St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Welland, but will not service regional routes. GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule.

Toronto

Open: 

On Dec. 26, a number of places in Toronto will be open, including major shopping malls (Eaton Centre, Yorkdale, Scarborough Town Centre, Sherway Gardens, The Well and more). Major grocery stores will be open, along with select Beer Store and Wine Rack locations. Residents and visitors can also check out all the best-known tourist attractions, including Ripley’s Aquarium, the AGO, the ROM, Canada’s Wonderland (in Vaughan), Casa Loma, the Toronto Zoo, the CN Tower and more. Parks and trails will be open. Most cafes, restaurants and bars will be open, but call ahead to confirm.

Closed:

Non-emergency federal, provincial and municipal (including City Hall) services will be closed, along with banks, libraries, Canada Post, the St. Lawrence Market and LCBO locations.

The TTC will offer holiday service and GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule.

Wednesday waste collection will take place on Dec. 26