The list of what’s open and closed in Ottawa could fluctuate depending on Ontario’s COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Check provincial and municipal guidelines for any updated information after Dec. 22.
The list of what’s open and what’s closed in Ottawa over Christmas, New Year’s Day and the intervening holidays is bound to look a bit different in 2020.
Ottawa residents have been advised by the local public health unit to stick to their households over the holidays this year amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
That advice became regulation when the Ontario government announced the nation’s capital will enter a full lockdown on Boxing Day with the rest of the province, banning indoor gatherings at private residences, excluding single parents and people who live alone.
The lockdown measures will also limit the activities available to families in the final week of the year. Here’s a list of what you can expect from the city, stores and service providers to close out 2020.
Food and drink
Grocery stores and department stores like Walmart and Costco are powering down for Christmas Day and reopening on Boxing Day. Hours vary by location.
All LCBO stores will be closed on Dec. 25, Dec. 26 and Jan. 1. Most LCBOs will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31, though check the liquor retailer’s website for specific store hours.
The Beer Store will close at 6 p.m. on Dec. 24 and remain closed on Christmas Day.
The following Beer Stores locations in Ottawa will reopen on Boxing Day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.:
- 499 Terry Fox Dr.
- 1860 Bank St.
- 1984 Baseline Rd.
- 548 Montreal Rd.
- 515 Somerset St. W.
The Beer Store will also close at 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, remaining closed on the first day of 2021.
Shopping
Retailers are only allowed to open for curbside pickup and delivery as of Dec. 26.
Ottawa’s major shopping malls are open Christmas Eve (last-minute shoppers take note), but will be closed on Christmas. Once in lockdown, stores within malls are allowed to open for curbside pickup, as can food courts for take-out only.
Entertainment
Due to current restrictions related to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Ottawa residents are limited in how they can spend their time and how many people they can spend it with.
Restaurants, even those set up for outdoor winter dining, are closed except for delivery and pickup.
Museums and art galleries will all be forced to close during the lockdown period.
Many outdoor activities are still permitted, including publicly run skating rinks. The Rink of Dreams at city hall will be open every day from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., weather permitting.
Transit
Holiday service runs from Dec. 21 to Jan. 1 at OC Transpo.
Transit routes will be affected as follows during the holidays:
- Dec. 21-24: Reduced weekday schedule
- Dec. 25: Sunday schedule
- Dec. 26: Saturday schedule, with extra service on busy routes
- Dec. 27: Saturday schedule
- Dec. 29-31: Reduced weekday schedule
- Jan. 1: Sunday schedule
Para Transpo will operate according to holiday service on Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1.
Service on Ottawa buses and light rail will be free after 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.
OC Transpo encourages residents to celebrate the season only with members of their immediate household.
Holiday hours for OC Transpo’s customer service centre at the Rideau Centre are as follows:
- Dec. 24: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Dec. 25: Closed
- Dec. 26: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Dec. 31: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Jan. 1: Closed
Holiday hours for OC Transpo’s customer service line are as follows:
- Dec. 24: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Dec. 25: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Dec. 26: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Dec. 31: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Jan. 1: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
City services
The City of Ottawa’s service centres at 110 Laurier Ave. W. and at Ben Franklin Place will be closed on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
Pools, arenas and fitness centres will all be closed after Dec. 26.
While daycares are allowed to remain open during the closures, all municipal child-care services will be closed on Dec. 25, Dec. 28 and Jan. 1.
All branches of the Ottawa Public Library will be closed on Dec. 25, Dec. 26 and Jan. 1; in-person services at branches are suspended for the lockdown, but curbside pickup and returns are still available.
Trash pickup
There will be no curbside or multi-residential garbage, recycling or compost pickups on Dec. 25 or on Jan. 1. All scheduled Friday pickups will be pushed to Saturday over the holidays.
Similarly, the Trail Road Waste Facility will be closed on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, reopening the following days.
Christmas trees will be picked up on your household’s regular garbage day, but the city asks that all decorations be removed from the tree before disposal.
COVID-19 testing centres
Ottawa’s COVID-19 assessment centres will operate on adjusted schedules over the holidays.
The Moodie Care Clinic will be closed Dec. 25 to 27 and Jan 2 and 3.
The Heron Care Clinic will be closed Dec. 23 to 27 and Jan. 1 to 3.
The Ray Friel Care Clinic will be closed on Dec. 25.
The Brewer Arena and CHEO Assessment Centre:
- Closed: Dec. 25 and Jan. 1
- Shortened days (8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) on Dec. 24, 26, 27 and 31 and Jan. 2-3
- Shortened days (8:30 a.m to 3:30 p.m., Brewer adult assessment centre only) on Dec. 28-31
National Arts Centre drive-thru testing centre:
- Closed: Dec. 25 and Jan. 1
- Shortened day (8 a.m to 4 p.m.) Dec. 24 and Dec. 31
McNabb Community Centre:
- Closed: Dec. 25-27 and Jan. 1-3
- Shortened days (10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) Dec. 24 and Dec. 31
Other Ottawa Public Health services
The supervised consumption site at 179 Clarence St. will be closed from Dec. 25 to 28 and Jan. 1 to 3. The program’s mobile van will be closed on Dec. 24 but will operate from 5 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. from Dec. 25 to Jan. 3.
OPH’s sexual health clinic and satellite clinics will be closed from Dec. 24 to 28 and Dec. 31 to Jan. 3. The clinic will be open for appointments on Dec. 29 and 30.
The Ottawa Public Health Information Centre will be closed for general calls on Dec. 25, Dec. 28 and Jan. 1.
OPH’s COVID-19 phone line at 613-580-6744 will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 24, closed Dec. 25 and 26, open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 27, open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 28 to Dec. 30, open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 31 and closed Jan. 1.
The St. Laurent dental clinic will be closed on Dec. 25, Dec. 28 and Jan. 1.
OPH’s baby helpline is closed on Dec. 25, 26 and 28 and on Jan. 1.
To find out which health-care options are running in case of an emergency, check Holiday Hours here for a full list of pharmacies, hospitals, walk-in clinics and more operating over the holidays.
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