If you’re planning to head out on Canada Day, here’s a complete guide to what’s open and closed across southern Ontario on July 1, 2026, including Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton, Durham, Halton and Niagara. RELATED: How Toronto is tackling the heat at Canada Day events As communities across Ontario prepare for Canada Day fireworks, festivals, concerts and family-friendly events, many businesses, government offices, banks, shopping centres and public services will be operating on holiday hours or closed entirely. Whether you’re planning to shop, travel, dine out or attend a local celebration, here’s everything you need to know about what’s open and closed on Canada Day 2026 in southern Ontario. Mississauga On Wednesday, Erin Mills Town Centre, Heartland Town Centre, Dixie Outlet Mall, Sherwood Village (also known as Sheridan Mall/Sheridan Centre) and Meadowvale Town Centre will be closed. Banks, libraries, community centres, and non-emergency government offices (all levels) will also be closed, as will all LCBO locations and most Beer Store locations. There will be no waste collection on July 1 (it will be collected one day later) and Peel Community Recycling Centres are closed. As for what’s open, residents can visit Square One Shopping Centre (along with the Walmart Supercentre, Whole Foods, and The Food District), Rabba grocery stores, T&T Supermarket, most Shoppers Drug Mart locations, most restaurants that are typically open on Wednesdays (call ahead to confirm), Celebration Square and splash pads. Commuters should note that MiWay will operate on a regular Sunday schedule, and some routes will not operate due to low customer demand. GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule. Mississauga’s downtown core, particularly Celebration Square and the Living Arts Centre, will be brimming with activity on Canada Day. Celebrations begin at 4 p.m. and continue till 10:30 p.m., capped off by the annual fireworks show. Brampton On Canada Day, Shoppers World, most major grocery stores, City Hall, banks, libraries, federal and provincial non-emergency services, non-emergency Region of Peel services, the Brampton Animal Shelter, 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 Canada Day and Canada Post will not operate (no mail pickup or delivery). All LCBO and most Beer Store locations will be closed. Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA) will also be closed. As for fireworks, Canada Day is one of a few days every year when the City of Brampton sets off a fireworks display. Only the film industry and the City are allowed to apply for permits to use fireworks in Brampton under the new bylaw that prohibits personal use of fireworks. As for what’s open, Brampton residents can visit Bramalea City Centre, 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, as will some recreation centres. The Wet’n’Wild water park is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Commuters should note that Brampton Transit will operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule on July 1. Customer Service counters are closed. GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule. Halton – Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills On July 1, a number of places will be closed, including banks, city/town halls, Canada Post, most Halton Region offices and services (although all 24-hour/essential services remain open), community centres, seniors’ centres, indoor pools, arenas and libraries, LCBO locations, the Mattamy National Cycling Centre, Milton Mall, Burlington Centre, Mapleview Mall, Oakville Place, harbour offices, Oakville cemetery offices and Oakville fire administration. There will be no garbage pickup on July 1. Pickup will be one day later in Halton for the week. As for what’s open, residents can visit local parks and certain outdoor recreational amenities, most Shoppers Drug Marts (but call ahead to be sure), most restaurants that are typically open on Wednesdays for dine-in, takeout and delivery (but make sure to call ahead), some smaller grocery stores, such as Rabba grocery stores and select Beer Stores. In Burlington, the Nelson Pool and Splash Park, Mountainside Pool and Splash Park, and LaSalle Wading Pool and Splash Park are open for swimming, weather permitting. Outdoor pools in Oakville will also be open, except Brookdale. Residents can also visit splash pads, Conservation Halton parks, Toronto Premium Outlets and most Starbucks and Tim Hortons cafes. Transit: Oakville Transit will be offering its holiday service schedule from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Burlington Transit will operate on a Sunday schedule, Milton Transit will not operate and GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule. Hamilton On Canada Day, many businesses and services will be closed, including CF Lime Ridge, Eastgate Square, libraries, recreation centres and arenas, banks, LCBO locations, a number of Beer Store locations, non-emergency federal, provincial and municipal government offices, the Hamilton Farmers’ Market, Hamilton Civic Museums, Animal Services, the Tropical Greenhouse at Gage Park and most major grocery stores. There will be no green bin, blue box, yard waste, garbage or bulk garbage pickup on Canada Day (pickup is one day later). Community Recycling Centres will also be closed. As for what’s open, residents can visit local parks, splash pads, beaches, outdoor pools, Hamilton Conservation Authority areas and trails, some smaller grocery stores and most Shoppers Drug Mart locations, select Beer Stores locations, Wild Waterworks, the Dundurn National Historic Site at 5 p.m. for the presentation of the Canada Day Military Tattoo, some restaurants, bars and cafes (call ahead to be sure), and municipal golf courses. For transit, HSR will operate on a Sunday schedule and Trans-Cab service will align with HSR Sunday schedules. GO Transit will operate on a Saturday schedule. Hamilton is celebrating Canada Day at Bayfront Park (200 Harbourfront Dr.). The free party will feature fireworks, inflatables, a food truck rally and live entertainment. Personal fireworks are permitted on July 1. Durham – Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, Clarington On Canada Day, Pickering Town Centre, Oshawa Centre, LCBO locations, most Beer Store locations (save for select locations in Ajax, Oshawa, Pickering and Whitby), 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. Non-emergency government services and schools will be closed on the holiday. As for what’s open, most restaurants that are typically open on Wednesdays will be operating, but call ahead to be sure. The Wine Rack in the Independent Grocery outlet at 1893 Scugog St. in Port Perry will be open, as will the Independent Grocery store. Most Shoppers Drug Marts will be open. Residents can also visit casinos in Pickering, Ajax and Scugog and many cannabis dispensaries. Many craft beer breweries will be open, including Town Brewery in Whitby and Old Flame in Port Perry. Lakeview Park Beach in Oshawa will be open (with lifeguards on duty), as will most other public beaches. Camp Samac’s outdoor pool in Oshawa and Ajax Memorial’s outdoor pool will also be open, as will Orono Park pool. Parks and most splash pads will be open as well. Some recreation complexes, such as Delpark Homes Centre in Oshawa and Diane Hamre Recreation Complex in Newcastle, will be open with modified hours. Garbage and recycling pickup days will be one day later than usual. For transit, DRT and Pulse buses will be running on a holiday/weekend schedule. GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule. There will be sanctioned fireworks displays at Oshawa (Lakeview Park), Ajax Fairgrounds, Pickering (Kinsmen Park), Port Perry (Palmer Park), Whitby (Victoria Fields), Uxbridge (Elgin Park), and Bowmanville (Garnett Rickard Recreation Complex). Residents can purchase fireworks for private celebrations in each municipality. Canada Day is one of the few days when permits are not required. Niagara Region – Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, St. Catharines, Welland Most businesses in Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake remain open, as both the city and the town are designated tourism destinations and can remain open on federal or provincial holidays. The other 10 municipalities in Niagara, including St. Catharines and Welland, are mostly shut down. On Canada Day, closures will include all city and town halls, non-emergency federal, provincial, regional and municipal government offices, most major grocery stores, the Pen Centre in St. Catharines (Landmark Cinemas are open), 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, most community centres and libraries, banks, Canada Post and all LCBO and Beer Store locations. There will be no change to waste collection on July 1. As for what’s open, residents can visit Canada One in Niagara Falls, Outlet Collection at Niagara in Niagara-on-the-Lake, some smaller grocery stores such as Rabba, most wineries and breweries (but call ahead to be sure), multiple Wine Rack locations, most restaurants, bars and cafes that are typically open on Wednesdays (call ahead), most Shoppers Drug Mart locations, movie theatres and major Niagara Falls tourist attractions. For transit, GO Transit will operate on a Saturday schedule. Transit services in St. Catharines, Welland and Niagara Falls will operate on holiday hours. There will be no service on Niagara Transit regional routes. Toronto Many people will flock to Canada’s biggest city to celebrate this year, and most local and nearby tourist attractions will be open as a result. On Canada Day, residents and visitors can check out the Eaton Centre, CF Markville, Hillcrest Mall, Whole Foods Yorkville, Summerhill Market, Eataly, AGO, Ripley’s Aquarium, Toronto Zoo, Canada’s Wonderland, ROM, Casa Loma, CN Tower, Aga Khan Museum and some Beer Stores. A few notable locations/services will be closed, however, including Canada Post, banks, LCBO locations, libraries, shops at Don Mills, Sherway Gardens, Fairview Mall, Dufferin Mall, Scarborough Town Centre, Yorkdale, Gerrard Square and the St. Lawrence Market. All non-emergency government offices will also be closed. Garbage pickup will not be affected. Commuters should note that TTC will operate on a holiday schedule and GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule. Fireworks displays will start at 10 p.m. at Ashbridges Bay, Centennial Park (Etobicoke), Milliken Park, Mel Lastman Square, Harbourfront Centre, Amesbury Park and Stan Wadlow Park. INsauga’s Editorial Standards and Policies Last 30 Days: 41,995 Votes All Time: 1,407,220 Votes 2379 VOTES
Source link
