Boxing Day 2024 is here, and for many Ontarians, it marks the return to shopping after Christmas celebrations. This year, the holiday falls on Thursday, December 26, and shoppers can expect most businesses to be open, albeit with varied hours.
Many major grocery stores like Whole Foods and popular shopping malls, including the Square One Shopping Centre, are rolling out their holiday hours. Shoppers can visit these establishments to take advantage of post-Christmas sales and promotions.
Here's what to expect across various cities:
Toronto
Open:
- Eaton Centre: 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Fairview Mall: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- CF Markville: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Toronto Premium Outlets: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Yorkdale: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Walmart Supercentre at Square One: Hours vary; call for details.
Besides shopping, visitors can enjoy local attractions such as Ripley's Aquarium, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), and the Toronto Zoo, which will also be open with regular winter hours.
Closed:
- All non-essential federal, provincial, and municipal offices.
- Banks and libraries will not offer services today.
- Canada Post will not have mail delivery.
Mississauga and Brampton
For Mississauga residents, shopping is similarly convenient. Most major grocery stores are open, along with all significant malls like the Heartland Town Centre and Erin Mills Town Centre. Visitors are encouraged to double-check specific hours on the stores' websites.
Closed:
- All non-essential governmental offices and 311 services.
- Municipal community centres.
- Waste collection will not occur today.
Other Areas Across Ontario
Across the Niagara Region, select Beer Stores and LCBO locations will open with reduced hours, catering to customers wanting to stock up after the holiday season.
Meanwhile, city government services remain shut down, and residents are urged to plan accordingly. Free of the hustle usually attributed to busier shopping days, local highways are expected to be less crowded.
Transit services such as MiWay and GO Transit will run on altered schedules today, with MiWay operating on Saturday service and GO Transit following suit for passenger convenience.
Some highlights of open services include:
- Supermarkets across various grocery chains.
- Major retail entities like Costco and Walmart.
- Select restaurants and cafes, but patrons should call beforehand to confirm operating hours.
Overall, Boxing Day is one of the busiest shopping days of the year. The allure of discounts draws large crowds to stores. Consumers are encouraged to take advantage of this day to purchase gifts using gift cards received for Christmas or to grab deals on items they may have missed prior to the holiday.
So whether you're hitting the malls or simply running errands, this guide should help streamline your Boxing Day shopping experience throughout Ontario.
