What’s closed on Remembrance Day in Ontario

Remembrance Day is not a stat holiday in Ontario but some businesses and services may close.

Nov. 11 falls on Saturday this year and communities across Canada will hold public ceremonies at local cenotaphs.

Armistice Day, or Remembrance Day as it has come to be known, started as a day to honour the war dead following the First World War. The Armistice agreement was signed between Germany and the Allied Forces in Paris on Monday, Nov. 11, 1918. The ceasefire went into effect at 11 a.m.

The first Armistice Day was observed in 1919 in Canada.

These days, Royal Canadian Legion branches across Canada hold Remembrance Day ceremonies to honour veterans and residents can find the closest ceremony on their website here.

Cities may also have ceremonies planned. In Mississauga, there is a ceremony at the Mississauga Civic Centre Community Memorial, 300 City Centre Dr., on Nov. 11 starting at 10:30 a.m.

Brampton has a parade and ceremony on Nov. 11 as does Oakville. Burlington has ceremonies in different parts of the city. Hamilton also has several city ceremonies.

As Remembrance Day is not a statutory holiday in Ontario, workplaces are not obligated to give employees the day off.

But some businesses, such as the LCBO, may choose to close or open later to give people time to attend the morning ceremony on Nov. 11. The Beer Store confirmed most of their stores will open at 12 p.m. on Nov. 11 aside from those in the Ottawa area, which will open at 12:30 p.m.

Check with individual shops before heading out.

However, federal government offices, along with banks, are typically closed. Services such as Canada Post are halted for the day. As Remembrance Day falls on a Saturday this year, the following Monday (Nov. 13) is when government services will be closed.

Provincial and municipal government services such as libraries should remain open, although it is always a good idea to check.

There are nine official public holidays in Ontario — New Year’s Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day (Dec. 26).

For more information about Remembrance Day and its history in Canada, see the federal government website page here.