Find out what’s open, closed, and delayed in Ottawa for Thanksgiving, from grocery stores and transit to waste collection and city services.
Ottawa Celebrates Thanksgiving Monday
Ottawa marks Thanksgiving on Monday, Oct. 13, joining Canadians nationwide in celebrating the harvest season. The holiday, observed on the second Monday of October, brings adjusted schedules for services, shopping, and attractions across the city.
Shopping and Attractions Adjusted
Most grocery stores in Ottawa will be closed on Thanksgiving. Exceptions include Whole Foods at Lansdowne Park, Farm Boy at Rideau Centre, Loblaws on Isabella Street, and Metro on Rideau Street, which will remain open. Some stores may also adjust hours on Sunday, Oct. 12.
Beer Store and LCBO locations will be closed, though select rural LCBO convenience outlets and participating grocery stores will carry alcohol.
City malls have varied schedules: Bayshore, Place d’Orléans, and St. Laurent malls are closed, while Rideau Centre and Tanger Outlets remain open, with individual store hours potentially differing.
Cultural attractions have mixed schedules. The National Gallery of Canada and museums focused on agriculture, aviation, history, nature, science, and war remain open, while the Ottawa Art Gallery and Diefenbunker will be closed.
Waste and Municipal Services Delayed
Curbside green bin, recycling, and garbage collection, as well as multi-residential recycling and green bin pickup, will not occur on Monday. Service resumes Tuesday, with collections delayed by one day for the remainder of the week. Multi-residential garbage containers will still be collected as usual.
All Ottawa Public Library branches and municipal child-care centres will be closed. Many recreation facilities will also be closed or operating on modified schedules.
Ottawa Public Health closures include The Site program office and supervised consumption services at 179 Clarence St., sexual health clinics, and dental clinics. The Site mobile van will operate from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Financial and Government Services
Monday is a bank holiday; most branches will be closed, though ATMs remain accessible. City Hall, client service centres at Ben Franklin Place and 255 Centrum Blvd., and the provincial court at 100 Constellation Dr. will be closed. Ottawa’s 311 contact centre remains open for urgent matters.
Transportation Updates
City parking regulations remain in effect throughout the holiday. OC Transpo will operate on a Sunday schedule, with the Rideau Centre customer service centre open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Para Transpo bookings are automatically cancelled; riders can book trips via My Para Transpo or by calling 613-560-5000. The taxi coupon line and 57272 Para Transpo text service remain available.
Ottawa residents are encouraged to confirm individual business or service hours in advance to avoid surprises, as schedules can vary widely during the Thanksgiving holiday.
