What’s open and closed on Remembrance Day in Ontario

Remembrance Day is not a statutory holiday in Ontario but some places are closed.

Nov. 11 falls on Monday 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.

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

Many cities also hold civic ceremonies. Mississauga has a ceremony at 10:30 a.m. on Monday at the Mississauga Civic Centre Community Memorial, located on the upper portion of Celebration Square, 300 City Centre Dr.

Brampton has a parade and ceremony at Ken Whillans Square, Cenotaph, 2 Wellington St. W. on Nov. 11.

As Remembrance Day is not a public holiday in Ontario, workplaces are not obligated to give employees the day off. However, some businesses may choose to close or give employees time off to attend a ceremony.

What’s open:

Most shops and services will open for regular hours. Large shopping malls such as Square One Shopping Centre, Bramalea City Centre, Sherway Gardens and the Eatons Centre are open. Check with individual shops before heading out.

Major grocery stores like Loblaws, Sobeys, Metro and No Frills will operate with regular hours.

LCBO locations may choose to close or open later. The Beer Store confirmed that most Ontario locations will open at 12 p.m. on Nov. 11. Some Beer Stores in the Ottawa area will open at 12:30 p.m.

Most provincial and municipal government services such as libraries and community centres should be open, although it is always a good idea to check. The City of Mississauga confirmed offices and services will operate as usual on Monday.

Public schools will be open.

What’s closed:

Canada Post, Service Canada, Passport and other federal government services will be closed.

Banks are typically closed.

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.

Lead photo: Eric Smart