What’s open and closed on Truth and Reconciliation Day in Hamilton, Halton, Niagara regions

Residents of the Hamilton, Halton and Niagara regions should prepare for some closures including banks and Canada Post for Truth and Reconciliation Day.

Wednesday is a federal statutory holiday in Canada, but not a provincial one in Ontario. This means only some services will be affected. 

GO Transit along with transit in all three regions will operate on a regular weekday service schedule.

Hamilton

Federal offices will be closed in Hamilton. However, most municipal services including city hall will remain open.

Most businesses will operate as usual, including grocery stores, shops and restaurants.

Beer Store and LCBO locations will also remain open but it’s advised to call ahead as hours may be reduced.

On Wednesday at 7 a.m., the city will commemorate this day with a Sunrise Ceremony at the West Harbour James Street Plaza.

A morning gathering is also set to take place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Additionally at 2 p.m. at Hamilton’s Gore Park, a community-organized gathering is set to take place at the former location of the Sir John A. Macdonald statue.

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Halton

On Wednesday, Oakville Town Hall, the Oakville Transit office and all Oakville Public Library branches and cemetery offices will be closed. All Milton public library branches will also be closed.

The Oakville Museum, the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, community centres, indoor pools, arenas, seniors’ centres and harbour offices will all remain open.

Milton Town Hall and recreation centres will be open as usual.

Both the Beer Store and LCBO are open in the Halton Region but LCBO locations may have reduced hours.

In Oakville, residents can visit the town’s first orange crosswalk at Thomas and Church streets. 

In Halton Region, the survivors’ flag is raised ahead of Wednesday and lowered to half-mast on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour residential school victims and survivors.

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Niagara

Some city and town-run services such as some town and city halls, administrative offices, libraries and community centres will be closed.

Libraries in Port Colborne will also be closed.

In Welland, there will be a flag raising at Civic Square at 10 a.m. along with one at the same time in Niagara Falls at city hall.

Niagara Falls attractions, restaurants and tourism businesses will continue operating normally.

However, residents and visitors should call ahead to check individual hours as they may vary.

In Niagara-on-the-Lake, the Town Administration Building and Operations Building, the Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Centre and the Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library will be closed.

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