What's open and closed in Ottawa around Christmas
If you're wondering what's open and closed in Ottawa over the holidays, we've made a list and checked it twice.
Tuesday, Dec. 24
Shopping and attractions
Many grocery stores, pharmacies and alcohol outlets close early.
The Bayshore, Place d'Orléans, Rideau Centre and St. Laurent malls each close at 5 p.m. Bayshore opens early at 8 a.m.
The science museum and Ottawa Art Gallery are open on regular hours. The national gallery and war and history museums close at 2 p.m.
The agriculture museum is closed Dec. 23 to 26. The aviation museum has its normal Tuesday closure and the nature museum is closed.
Parliament Hill seen through Christmas lights during twilight last December. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
Services
Waste collection is on a normal schedule.
OC Transpo is on a "reduced weekday schedule," as it is Monday and Friday. School routes won't be running.
Bank branches across the city are open with regular hours.
Free parking will be available at City Hall starting at 4 p.m. on Dec. 24 and running until 7 a.m. on Dec. 26.
The ByWard Market garage will offer free parking over the same time period.
Shenkman Arts Centre will be closed from Dec. 24 to Dec. 27, while the box office at Meridian Theatres will be closed from Dec. 24 to Jan. 12.
The city's sexual health clinic and dental clinics will work modified holiday hours.
All Ottawa Public Library branches normally open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. will instead open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 25
Businesses, attractions, banks and services are generally closed.
Services
OC Transpo is on a Sunday schedule.
The city will not offer curbside or multi-residential green bin, recycling or bulky item collection on Christmas. Pick-up will take place the following day and collection will be delayed by one day for the rest of the week. The Trail Waste Facility will also be closed.
The Site program mobile van will operate from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
The city's sexual health clinic and dental clinics will be closed. As will all four of the city's employment and social services offices.
All branches of the Ottawa Public Library and the city's art galleries will be closed.
Thursday, Dec. 26
Shopping and attractions
Some grocery stores may tweak their hours, but many are back to normal.
Pharmacies and alcohol outlets may be closed or open under different hours. Check with specific locations.
The Bayshore, Rideau Centre and St. Laurent malls each open early: Bayshore and St. Laurent at 8 a.m. and the Rideau Centre at 9 a.m. Bayshore then closes an hour early at 9 p.m.
Place d'Orléans is keeping its regular hours.
A crowd of shoppers at Rideau Centre during Boxing Day 2023. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press)
The aviation, history, nature, science and war museums are open on regular hours.
The national gallery closes early at 5 p.m.
The agriculture museum and Ottawa Art Gallery are closed. Both reopen Friday.
All Scotiabank and TD branches across the city will be closed.
Services
OC Transpo is on a Saturday schedule.
The Trail Waste Facility is open boxing day from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Site program mobile van will operate from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
The city's sexual health clinic and dental clinics will be closed. As will all four of the city's employment and social services offices.
All branches of the Ottawa Public Library and the city's art galleries will be closed.
