What's open and closed on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Sept. 30?

Malls open, GO and YRT running, banks closed on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 30, 2021
Simone Joseph

Canada will observe its first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30, a federal holiday created to honour Canada's residential school survivors, their families and communities and to publicly commemorate the impact and trauma endured by Indigenous people in Canadian residential schools.

This day is not a statutory holiday in Ontario, meaning it is not mandatory for businesses to give employees the day off. However, there are some business closures.

Anyone who works for a federally regulated company, that operates under the Canada Labour Code, will receive a paid holiday for National Truth and Reconciliation Day.

All federal public service workers in Ontario will also get Sept. 30 off work. Here’s a summary of what’s open and closed Sept. 30:

OPEN

Malls: Most malls in York Region will be open Thursday, although some will have reduced hours., Vaughan Mills and CF Markville will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Upper Canada Mall will be open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Services: York Region Transit and GO Transit will operate on a normal schedule. All YRT services and TTC routes in York Region will operate regular weekday schedules on Thursday, Sept. 30.

Libraries: All Richmond Hill Public Library locations will be closed on Sept. 30 for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Vaughan and Aurora Public Library locations will have regular hours.

Schools: Ontario schools, universities and colleges, remain open Thursday.

Most grocery stores will remain open.

LCBO: In recognition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, LCBO retail stores across the province will be closed on the morning of Thursday, Sept. 30, opening at noon.

The Beer Store will remain open.

CLOSED

Banks: All banks will be closed on Thursday, as they are federally regulated companies.

Canada Post: It will be closed.

Some private companies and organizations that are not federally regulated may close. Companies have the freedom to grant employees a day off, so some businesses could end up closing on Thursday.