What’s open and closed Victoria Day May 20 in Ontario cities and towns 2024
Published May 20, 2024 at 6:38 am
This year, Victoria Day falls on Monday, May 20, in Ontario.
Here is what’s open and closed in Mississauga, Brampton, Toronto, Hamilton, Oakville, Milton, Burlington, Halton Hills, Oshawa, Whitby, Pickering, Clarington, Niagara Falls and Niagara Region.
One of Canada’s oldest holidays, Victoria Day is observed to celebrate the birthday of Queen Victoria (known as the ‘mother of confederation’) on May 24.
The holiday was established in 1845 before Canada became an independent nation. While it was initially always on May 24, it was later changed to the third Monday of every May. The holiday is also colloquially known as the “May 2-4 weekend.”
The LCBO, most Beer Store locations, banks, most libraries, city halls, provincial and federal government offices, and non-emergency government services will be closed on Victoria Day in Mississauga, Brampton, Halton, Hamilton and the Durham and Niagara regions.
Here’s what’s open and closed on Victoria Day in various cities across southern Ontario:
Major malls, such as Erin Mills Town Centre, Dixie Outlet Mall, and Heartland Town Centre, will be closed on Victoria Day. Government offices, City Hall, Region of Peel offices, banks, libraries and community centres, LCBO stores, most major grocery stores and most Beer Store locations (save for stores located at 1550 Dundas St. E. and 3154 Hurontario St.) will be closed. Canada Post will not be operating.
Garbage and recycling will not be picked up on the holiday.
Non-emergency government services and schools will also be closed.
Celebration Square will be open and its water fountain will be on full display.
Square One will be open from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., and Whole Foods Square One will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Other facilities that will be open include most restaurants that are typically open on Mondays (but call ahead to be sure), Rabba grocery stores, T&T Central Parkway, most Shoppers Drug Mart locations, movie theatres and some entertainment centres. Parks and trails will also be open.
For transit, MiWay will operate on a holiday schedule, and some routes will not operate due to low customer demand (check the schedule online). GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule. For TransHelp, all trips for Monday, May 20, and Tuesday, May 21, must be booked by 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 19.
For more details on what’s open and closed in Mississauga, including hours of operations, click here.
On Victoria Day, Shoppers World, most major grocery stores, City Hall, banks, libraries, community centres, federal and provincial non-emergency services, non-emergency Region of Peel services, the Brampton Animal Shelter, the Brampton On Stage Box Office, Brampton Transit facilities (including Lost and Found) and community recycling centres will be closed.
Non-emergency government services and schools will also be closed.
Garbage will not be picked up on Victoria Day and Canada Post will not operate (no mail pick-up or delivery). All LCBO and most Beer Store locations (save for Beer Stores located at 198 Queen St. E., 180 Sandalwood Pkwy. and 80 Peel Centre Dr.) will be closed.
Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA) will also be closed.
The personal use of fireworks is prohibited on Victoria Day in the city.
As for what’s open, Brampton residents can visit Bramalea City Centre (11 a.m. until 6 p.m.), restaurants, cafes and bars (but should call ahead to be sure), most pharmacies (including most Shoppers Drug Mart locations) and Rabba grocery stores. Parks and trails will be open.
Commuters should note that Brampton Transit will operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule on Victoria Day. Customer Service counters are closed. GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule.
For more details on what’s open and closed in Brampton, including hours of operations, click here.
On Victoria Day, Mapleview Centre, Burlington Centre, Oakville Place, Milton Mall, most major grocery stores, LCBO locations, most Beer Store locations (save for two in Burlington and one in Oakville), community centres, the Oakville Museum, the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, municipal buildings (including city/town halls in Milton, Burlington, Oakville and Halton Hills and Halton Region offices), banks, libraries and court services will be closed.
Canada Post will not operate (there will be no pick-up or delivery), the Halton Waste Management Site will be closed, and garbage will not be picked up on the holiday.
Non-emergency government services and schools will be closed as well.
As for what’s open, residents can visit local parks and certain outdoor recreational amenities, most Shoppers Drug Mart locations, most restaurants that are open on Mondays (but call ahead to be sure), Rabba grocery stores, Conservation Halton Parks (Crawford Lake, Hilton Falls, Kelso, Mount Nemo, Mountsberg and Rattlesnake Point), Terra Cotta Conservation Area in Halton Hills and Toronto Premium Outlets (9:30 a.m. until 7 p.m.).
The Angela Coughlan Pool at 2425 Upper Middle Rd. in Burlington will be open for recreational and lap swimming. Burlington’s nine splash pads will also be open and operating.
Transit:
Oakville Transit will run on a holiday schedule.
Burlington Transit will run on a Sunday schedule.
Milton Transit will not operate on Victoria Day.
GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule.
For more details on what’s open and closed in Halton, including hours of operations, click here.
This year, Hamilton will be hosting a fireworks celebration at Dundas Driving Park.
On the holiday, the LCBO, most Beer Store locations (save for six stores), CF Lime Ridge and other major malls, most major grocery stores, libraries, City Hall, municipally run recreation centres, the Hamilton Farmers’ Market, the Gage Park Tropical Greenhouse, banks, and Canada Post will be closed.
All Hamilton Civic Museums will also be closed.
There will be no garbage pickup on Victoria Day and Community Recycling Centres and Transfer Stations will be closed.
Non-emergency government services and schools will be closed as well.
As for what’s open, residents can visit convenience stores, movie theatres, most pharmacies, most restaurants that are typically open on Mondays (but call ahead to be sure), Splitsville Entertainment, local parks, trails and conservation areas, including Christie Lake, Crooks’ Hollow, Devil’s Punchbowl, Dundas Valley, Fletcher Creek, Spencer Gorge and others. Westfield Heritage Village (12 pm to 4 pm) will be open, as will most cannabis stores and some breweries, including Collective Arts. Call ahead to be sure.
For transit, HSR buses will operate at a Sunday service level, and routes that do not operate on Sundays will not operate on Victoria Day, meaning HSR myRide and Route 18 Waterdown Mountaineer will not be running.
Trans-Cab service will align with HSR Sunday schedules. Service between Countrywide Recycling and the Twenty at Nebo transfer point will not be running.
DARTS will operate on holiday service hours. All subscription trips on DARTS, except for dialysis trips, are cancelled for Victoria Day. If passengers need to travel, they must make a reservation in advance to do so. The Accessible Transportation Services customer service office will be closed.
GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule.
For those looking to celebrate with fireworks, Victoria Day and Canada Day are the only permitted days. Fireworks are allowed only between dusk and 11 p.m. If inclement weather on those days prevents fireworks, they can be used the day following the holiday between dusk and 11 p.m.
The Fire Marshall’s Office recommends that residents attend public fireworks displays put on by certified technicians who are trained to handle and discharge fireworks safely.
For more details on what’s open and closed in Hamilton, including hours of operations, click here.
On Victoria Day, Pickering Town Centre, Oshawa Centre, LCBO locations, most Beer Store locations (save for select locations in Ajax, Oshawa and Whitby), Pickering Museum Village, Service Oshawa, banks, libraries, town and city halls, non-emergency government services (all levels), courts and most municipal recreation centres will be closed.
Canada Post will also be closed.
Garbage and recycling days will be pushed ahead by one day.
Non-emergency government services and schools will be closed on the holiday.
As for what’s open, some restaurants may be open for dine-in, takeout and delivery, but call ahead to be sure. Residents can also visit convenience stores and some smaller grocery stores, most pharmacies, most breweries (including Old Flame in Port Perry and Town and Little Beasts in Whitby) and some cannabis stores. Town will open its Pump House waterfront beer garden this weekend.
Municipal parks, conservation areas, walking trails, movie theatres, and most garden centres will be open.
Personal fireworks are permitted on Victoria Day. Each municipality has their own set of rules on where fireworks can be launched, so check with your city or town to be sure. Illegal use can result in substantial fines. Local fire departments are encouraging residents to find a professional display.
There are no official Victoria Day events this year, though the Region is hosting numerous events on the days surrounding it.
Transit:
Durham Region Transit (DRT) and Pulse buses will run on a holiday schedule and GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule.
For more details on what’s open and closed in Durham, including hours of operations, click here.
Because Niagara is popular amongst tourists, many shops and attractions will be open.
On Victoria Day, many places will still be closed, including all city and town halls, non-emergency federal, provincial, municipal and regional government offices, most major grocery stores, the Pen Centre in St Catharines, Fairview Mall in St Catharines, Briarfield Shopping Centre in St Catharines, Pendale Plaza in St Catharines, Seaway Mall in Welland, SmartCentres in Welland and St Catharines, community centres and libraries, banks, Canada Post (no mail pick up or delivery), Community Recycling Centres, all LCBO locations and all Beer Store locations.
There will be no garbage pickup on Victoria Day.
As for what’s open, residents can check out Canada One in Niagara Falls, SmartCentres in Niagara Falls, Outlet Collection at Niagara in Niagara-on-the-Lake, some smaller grocery stores, some wineries and breweries (call ahead to be sure), most bars, restaurants and cafes that are open on Mondays (call ahead), most pharmacies, movie theatres and tourist attractions (call ahead).
Non-emergency government services and schools will be closed.
For transit, GO Transit will operate on a Saturday schedule and transit services in St Catharines, Welland and Niagara Falls will operate on holiday hours.
For more details on what’s open and closed in Niagara, including hours of operations, click here.
In Toronto, some major malls and most popular tourist attractions will be open on Victoria Day.
That said, residents and visitors should note that most restaurants usually closed on Mondays will likely still be closed on the holiday (so call ahead to confirm). Other places that will be closed include City Hall, municipal, provincial and federal government offices providing non-emergency services, libraries (closed May 19 and 20), banks, Canada Post (no mail pick-up or delivery), LCBO, most Beer Store locations (but some will remain open), most major grocery stores, Shops at Don Mills, Sherway Gardens, Fairview Mall, Dufferin Mall, Scarborough Town Centre, Yorkdale, Gerrard Square and the St. Lawrence Market.
Schools will also be closed.
Residents can visit the Eaton Centre, Markville, Hillcrest Mall, Pacific Mall, Vaughan Mills, Whole Foods locations in Yorkville and Mississauga, Summerhill Market, Eataly (both locations), AGO, Gardiner Museum, Ripley’s Aquarium, Toronto Zoo, ROM, Ontario Science Centre, Aga Khan Museum, Casa Loma, Centreville Amusement Park, Hockey Hall of Fame, Riverdale Farm, Canada’s Wonderland and the CN Tower.
Parks and trails will be open.
For those looking for an official fireworks display, the city will host its annual celebration at Ashbridges Bay. Some road closures will be in effect in the area, and police are reminding residents that the personal use of fireworks is not permitted in parks, beaches or public spaces except for city-designed fire pits that require a permit.
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