Autumn is in full swing, marking the arrival of Thanksgiving festivities throughout Canada. This year, the harvest celebration is slated for the second Monday of October, specifically on Oct. 12, 2026.
For those in Ottawa, here’s a rundown of holiday opening hours and closures to keep in mind. It’s advisable to verify directly with establishments or services in advance.
### Shopping and Attractions
In select regions of the city such as the Glebe and ByWard Market, some stores can operate on holidays under the Retail Business Holidays Act.
**Grocery Stores**
While most grocery stores in Ottawa will be closed on Monday, a few in designated areas will remain open. Note that operating hours may differ on Sunday and Monday.
**Alcohol**
Both Beer Store and LCBO outlets will be closed. However, alcohol might be accessible at rural LCBO convenience outlets and select open grocery stores on Monday.
**Malls**
Bayshore, Place d’Orléans, and St. Laurent malls will be closed. The Rideau Centre will remain open, but individual store hours could vary.
**Museums and Galleries**
Among the notable attractions, the National Gallery of Canada and various museums covering agriculture, aviation, history, nature, science, and war will welcome visitors. However, the Ottawa Art Gallery and Diefenbunker will be closed.
### Services
**Waste**
There will be no curbside green bin, recycling, or garbage collection on Monday. Services will resume on Tuesday with a one-day delay for the remainder of the week.
**Libraries**
All branches of the Ottawa Public Library will be closed during the holiday.
**Municipal Child Care**
All municipal child-care centers will not be operational on Thanksgiving.
**Recreation**
While many recreation facilities will be closed, some will be open with modified schedules. More information can be found [here](https://ottawa.ca/en/recreation-and-parks/facilities/place-listing).
**Ottawa Public Health**
The Site mobile van will operate from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., whereas the Sexual Health Clinic, satellite clinics, and dental clinics will be closed.
**Pharmacies**
Certain pharmacy locations may remain open on Thanksgiving; it’s advisable to confirm their holiday hours individually.
**Banks**
Given that Monday is a bank holiday, many branches will be closed. However, access to some ATMs may still be available.
**Other Services**
City hall, client service centers at Ben Franklin Place and 255 Centrum Blvd., and the provincial court at 100 Constellation Dr. will be closed. Nevertheless, the city’s 311 contact center will be operational for urgent matters. ServiceOntario, Service Canada, and similar government services will be closed as well.
### Getting Around
**Parking**
City of Ottawa parking regulations and restrictions will be in effect.
**Transit**
OC Transpo will run on a Sunday schedule. The Rideau Centre customer service center will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Para Transpo regular bookings will be automatically canceled, but riders can reschedule trips through [My Para Transpo](https://mypara.octranspo.com/#/auth/signinregister) or by calling 613-560-5000. The taxi coupon line and 57272 Para Transpo text service will remain operational.