The long weekend is upon the nation’s capital, and with that comes closures and possibly thunderstorms. Many stores and services are closed on Good Friday and Easter on Sunday, unfortunate given the weather is not set to cooperate in the region. Thursday temperatures are cool at 11 C and the sun is out, but thunderstorms and rain showers will dominate Friday and Saturday. According to Environment Canada, it should be around 15 C with a risk of a thunderstorm in the afternoon for the holiday on April 18. Saturday should be even warmer with a high of 17 C but rain will be present all day, the weather agency predicts. Easter it’s set to cool down to 9 C but the sun could peek out over the day.
Most big-chain grocery stores will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, but some select locations will be open. Check with the local grocer for hours of operation. LCBO and Beer stores will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
On April 18, buses and O-Train lines will run on a Sunday schedule. On Monday, buses and Line 1 will operate on a reduced weekday schedule and lines 2 and 4 will be a normal weekday schedule. ParaTranspo trips will be automatically cancelled on Friday and Monday.
Green bin, recycling and garbage collection will not happen on Friday or Monday. Both will be bumped to the next day. The Trail Waste Facility Landfill will be open on April 18 and April 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Recreational services and facilities will have altered hours or closed this weekend. The city is asking people to check local pools, arenas and community spaces. Arts centres and city-operated museums will be closed Good Friday and Easter Monday. All branches of Ottawa Public Library (including Bookmobile, Homebound services and InfoService) will be closed on Friday, April 18, Sunday, April 20 and Monday, April 21.
There are a number of Easter-related activities for families and people to enjoy, and some places are open to give people something to do. The Ottawa Senators will go head-to-head with the Carolina Hurricanes at the CT Centre. All weekend the annual Easter Egg Hunt at Valleyview Little Animal Farm will take place. Easter at the Log Farm includes an Easter egg hunt in the forest and a scenic wagon ride. Visitors can observe soft lambs, fluffy newly hatched chicks and turkey poults up close, and learn about the transformation of cacao beans into chocolate—complete with a delicious sample at the Canadian Agriculture and Food Museum. Stanley’s is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt for kids and kids at heart on Saturday, April 19. Additionally, people can enjoy spring at the Carp Farmers’ Easter Market, both inside and outside, featuring fresh veggies, fruits, honey, maple syrup, oils, hot sauces, home décor, preserves, baked goods, and prepared foods.
In Montreal, residents planning to run errands or take in the city’s cultural offerings over the Easter weekend would do well to check the fine print. A patchwork of closures and modified hours will affect everything from bank hours to transit. Government offices will be closed from Friday through Monday. That includes Accès Montréal counters, permit centres and courts — except for detainee cases, which will be processed at the courthouse on Gosford St.
Most banks will be closed on Friday but open Monday. Canada Post will pause delivery services, though privately run outlets may follow the business hours of their host locations. The SAQ’s opening hours vary. Most outlets will be open Friday and Saturday, while Sunday and Monday hours differ by location. SQDC store hours may also vary; check with your local store. Most major grocery stores will be open Friday and Monday but closed Sunday, while pharmacies will generally remain open, though some may reduce their hours on Sunday.
Montreal’s public markets — including Jean-Talon, Atwater and Maisonneuve — will remain open throughout the weekend, typically from 8 or 9 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m. Neighbourhood kiosks at Square Victoria, Mont-Royal and Jean-Brillant will also be operational. Cultural sites such as the Biodôme, Planetarium and Insectarium are open daily. However, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the McCord Stewart Museum will be closed on Monday.
Services like garbage, recycling and compost collection will continue to take place across the city. Check your borough schedule. Parking restrictions remain in effect. Public transit will operate on modified schedules. The STM will run on a holiday timetable, while the RTL and STL will follow Saturday service. Exo commuter trains will run on a Sunday schedule on Friday and a regular schedule on Monday. The REM will run Friday and Monday from 5:30 a.m. to 8:40 p.m. As for voting, advance polling stations for the federal election will be open from Friday through Monday.
In Thunder Bay, residents will notice many businesses and services closed in observance of Easter Sunday, one of the most significant days on the Christian calendar. Large retailers in the Intercity area—including Home Depot, Michaels, Walmart, and Canadian Tire—will be closed for the day. The Intercity Shopping Centre will also be shuttered for the holiday.
In keeping with Ontario regulations, stores over 280 square metres are not permitted to open on Easter Sunday. Essential services and grocery options will be limited, as banks, municipal offices, the LCBO, Beer Store, libraries, and city-run recreation centres will also be closed. Thunder Bay Transit will run on a holiday schedule both Sunday and Good Friday.
Need a few last-minute groceries? Skaf’s in Current River will remain open on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, along with Circle K locations across the city and Shoppers Drug Mart stores. On Good Friday, most major stores and malls, including the LCBO and Beer Store, will also be closed. However, George’s Market on River Street and Skaf’s are open for those who need to pick up groceries.
Dining options will be limited, as many local eateries, including Bay Village Coffee and Nippers Takeout, will take a break for the holiday weekend. Emergency services will remain operational throughout the weekend, with the Thunder Bay Police Service and Thunder Bay Fire Rescue continuing to operate as usual.
In Sault Ste. Marie, several City facilities will be closed during the Easter holiday period from Friday, April 18 to Monday, April 21. This includes the cemetery office, City Landfill and Household Hazardous Waste Depot, Fire Services Administrative office, GFL Memorial Gardens administrative office, Public Works and Engineering office, and the Ronald A. Irwin Civic Centre.
There will be no garbage or recycling pickup on Friday, April 18, and collection will be one day late for the remainder of the week. The City’s landfill will also be closed on Friday and Monday. The Household Hazardous Waste Depot will open to the public for the season beginning April 22.
For recreational activities, the Bay Street Active Living Centre will be closed on Friday, but open Saturday for scheduled programming. GFL Memorial Gardens will be open for scheduled programming on Saturday and Monday. The John Rhodes Community Centre Pool will be open holiday hours on Friday and Sunday, while regular programming will resume on Saturday and Monday. The Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site will be open Saturday for Easter egg hunt activities.
As the Easter weekend approaches, it’s essential for residents in Ottawa, Montreal, Thunder Bay, and Sault Ste. Marie to plan ahead, taking note of closures and modified hours to make the most of their holiday weekend.
