Business and service hours will change for the holiday season in Quebec and Ontario.
Photo: Canva
Radio-CanadaWith new health measures in effect in Quebec and Ontario, here's how to prepare for the arrival of 2022.
Public Transit
OC Transpo is adopting a special schedule for the holiday season from December 20 to January 1st on select bus routes. It is therefore advisable to consult the website in order to plan your trips. The Para Transpo service also offers reduced service on December 25 and 26 and January 1st.
An OC Transpo bus in Ottawa (archives)
Photo: The Canadian Press / Justin Tang
The Société de transport de l'Outaouais (STO) is also switching to a holiday schedule until January 3. It is best to consult the website since many bus routes are modified for December 24 and 31 as well as for December 28, 29 and 30. On December 25 and 26, as well as January 1st and 2, the Société de transport de l'OutaouaisSTOrespects Sunday schedule. For December 27 and January 3, bus routes are subject to the Saturday schedule.
Shopping malls
In general, shopping malls close at 5 p.m. on December 24 and reopen on December 26 for the post-Christmas sales.
However, several malls open at different times on December 26, which falls on a Sunday this year. For example, the Promenades Gatineau are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., while the Rideau Center is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Rideau Center in Ottawa (archives)
Photo: Radio-Canada / Michel Aspirot
Shopping malls will also be closed on 1st January. According to the new measures announced in Quebec, businesses close their doors on the first three Sundays of January, except for convenience stores, pharmacies and gas stations.
Grocery stores and pharmacies
In Quebec, big-box grocery stores close on December 25 and reopen on December 26 at 1 p.m., then they close again on January 1. Grocery stores will also be closed on Sunday, January 2. However, pharmacies remain open.
In Ontario, big box grocery stores are also closed on December 25 and January 1st, but opening hours vary on Boxing Day. For example, some grocery stores, like Farm Boy, are closed on December 26, while Sobeys are open at 9 a.m.
SAQ and LCBO
All Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) stores close at 5 p.m. on December 24 and December 31, while Société des alcools du Québec< abbr title="Société des alcools du Québec">SAQExpress closes at 7 p.m. On December 25, January 1 and January 2, the branches are all closed without exception. Regular hours resume on December 26 at 1 p.m. and January 3 at regular time.
At the LCBO, customers have until 6 p.m. on December 24 to shop. All branches are closed on December 25 and January 1, as are the Beer Stores.
Banks, credit unions and post offices
In Quebec and Ontario, banks, credit unions and post offices are closed on December 27 and 28 as well as December 3 and 4 January. The normal schedule will be in effect on December 29, 30 and 31 and then from January 5.
Garbage and recycling collection
There are no changes to the garbage, compost and recycling collection schedule in Ottawa. Christmas trees are picked up on the usual collection day but must not be put in a bag or left in a snow bank.
Several municipalities accept natural Christmas trees during their usual garbage collection (archives).
Photo: iStock
In Gatineau, there is no waste collection on December 25 or January 1st. Collections that usually take place on Saturday are postponed to Monday. The City collects Christmas trees from January 3 to 14, the same day as the compost collection. As in Ottawa, they should not be put in a plastic bag.
Libraries and Museums
In Ottawa, the Canadian Museum of Nature is closed December 24-26, December 31 and January 1st. The National Gallery of Canada (NGC) is only closed on December 25. Proof of vaccination is required at area museums for visitors 12 and older. However, due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, the Canadian Museum of History and the Canadian War Museum are closing until January 19.
The Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa (archives)
Photo: Radio-Canada / Jacques Corriveau
The Ottawa libraries are open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on December 24 and 31 and closed on December 25 and 26.
On the Gatineau side, the Maison du citoyen is closed from December 24 to January 3 inclusively. The other libraries are closed from December 24 to 26 and from December 31 to January 2.
Sports activities
In Gatineau, the outdoor centers are closed on December 25 and January 1st, but the trails remain accessible. In addition, the outdoor rinks are open depending on weather conditions. Camp Fortune is closed on December 25 but open on January 1, while Mont Cascades is open throughout the holiday season.
With the sanitary measures in force, remember that the practice of indoor sports is limited to a maximum of 25 people in Quebec and that the vaccination passport is mandatory. In addition, fitness centers, including those in the City of Gatineau, are closed until further notice.
Skiers and snowboarders on a ski lift at Camp Fortune (archives)
Photo: Radio-Canada / Felix Desroches
Across the Ottawa River in Ottawa, pools, arenas, skating rinks and fitness centers are open on a modified schedule during the holiday season. Details can be found on the City of Ottawa website. In all cases, the vaccination passport is required for indoor activities. The Calabogie Peaks Resort ski center is open from Christmas until New Years Day and the hiking trails remain accessible at all times.
Parking
Parking at Ottawa City Hall and the two indoor ByWard Market parking lots are free from 4 p.m. on December 24 until December 26 at 7 a.m., as well as from December 31 at 4 p.m. until January 2 at 7 a.m. As for parking in the streets, some areas are free on weekends, but it is best to refer to the parking terminal.
In Gatineau, on-street parking at night is prohibited when a winter parking prohibition notice is in effect. For daytime parking, please also refer to the parking terminals to be sure of the price.
Other services
The City of Gatineau's 311 call center remains open 24 hours a day, as does that of the City of Ottawa.
