From garbage collection to skating rinks, here’s what residents of Sault Ste. Marie need to know about city operations over Christmas and New Year
NEWS RELEASE
CITY OF SAULT STE. MARIE
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The City of Sault Ste. Marie advises residents of the following service and facility changes during the holiday season.
Administrative Offices: City administrative offices will be closed beginning Dec. 24 at noon, and all day on Dec. 25, 26, and Jan. 1. This includes:
Cemetery office
GFL Memorial Gardens administrative office
Ronald A. Irwin Civic Centre
Sault Transit Office
Fire Services Administration
Public Works and Engineering Services.
For 24-hour emergency service requests, call Public Works at 705-759-5201.
Arenas:
John Rhodes Community Centre and Northern Community Centre
John Rhodes Community Centre Arena and Northern Community Centre Arena will close at 4 p.m. on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 and will be closed Dec. 25, 26, and January 1.
GFL Memorial Gardens
GFL Memorial Gardens will close at 4 p.m. on Dec. 24 and will be closed Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1.
The GFL Memorial Gardens is open on Dec. 31 for an OHL game.
The GFL Memorial Gardens Box Office will close at noon on Dec. 24 and will be closed Dec. 25, 26, and Jan. 1. It will be open on Dec. 31 for the OHL game.
Skating:
Downtown skating at the Plaza:
Christmas Eve: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Christmas Day: noon to 4 p.m.
Boxing Day: noon to 4 p.m.
New Year’s Eve: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
New Year’s Day: noon to 4 p.m.
Regular Hours are Monday to Friday, noon to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The New Year’s Eve Puck Drop will take place on Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. and midnight.
Outdoor boarded rinks:
Anna McCrea (250 Mark St), Merrifield (331 Patrick St), and Esposito (36 Queen Street West) rinks are open for the season, weather permitting.
Open Monday to Friday from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Pool and Community Centres
John Rhodes Community Centre Pool: Visit johnrhodespool.ca or call 705-759-5419 for the holiday schedule.
The Northern Community Centre: Closed at 4 p.m. on Dec. 24, reopening Dec. 27. Closed at 4 p.m. on Dec. 31, reopening Jan. 2.
Northern Community Centre 55+: Closed Dec. 22 to Jan. 4.
Bay Street Active Living Centre: No programming from Dec. 22 to 28. Open for scheduled programming from Dec. 29 to Jan. 3 and closed on Jan. 1.
Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site: Closed Dec. 22 to Jan. 5. Open Saturday, Jan. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Public Library: The James L. McIntyre Centennial Library and the North Branch Library will close early on Dec. 24, at 12:00 p.m. Both locations will be closed on Dec. 25 and Dec. 26. Both locations will close early at 4 p.m. on Dec. 31.
Garbage and Recycling Collection: There will be no garbage or recycling collection on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Collection will be one day late following Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Collection will occur on Boxing Day (Friday, Dec. 26).
Garbage
Recycling
Regular Garbage Collection Day
Week of Dec. 22 and Dec. 29
Regular Recycling Collection Day
Week of Dec. 22 and Dec. 29
Monday
Monday
Monday
Monday
Tuesday
Tuesday
Tuesday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Wednesday
Wednesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Thursday
Friday
Friday
Saturday
Friday
Saturday
All garbage must be placed in the rollout cart and meet the City’s weight restrictions. Bag tags are required for excess bags and are available at various locations. Visit saultstemarie.ca/bagtags for details.
Recyclable items include cardboard, steel cans, aluminum containers, glass bottles, #1 and #2 plastics, and wrapping paper (excluding foil or cellophane).
Natural Christmas trees, towels, blankets, gently used books, and magazines can be dropped off at the Clean North collection depot located in the Cambrian Mall parking lot from Dec. 26 to Jan. 10. Styrofoam will not be accepted and should be placed with regular garbage. Cardboard and wrapping paper should be placed in recycling bins. Visit www.cleannorth.org for more information.
The Landfill site at 402 Fifth Line East will close at 3 p.m. on Dec. 24 and will be closed on Dec. 25, 26, and Jan. 1.
Sault Ste. Marie Transit: The last buses depart the terminal at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 24. No transit service will be available on Dec. 25, 26, and Jan. 1. Regular service resumes Dec. 31. No regular transit on Jan. 1. For more information, call 705-759-5438.
Parabus service: The last pick–up or return on Dec. 24 will be at 5 p.m. Parabus service will operate on Dec. 25 and 26. The Last pick-up or return will be on dec. 31 at 11:15 p.m. There will be no Parabus service on Jan. 1.
Free downtown parking: Available Dec. 15 to Dec. 31, 2025, at all meters, pay and display units, and two-hour municipal parking lots. Restrictions apply, including accessible spaces without permits, no parking zones, fire routes, and private lots. 2-hour limits are in effect.
The operations schedule is available online at saultstemarie.ca. The City of Sault Ste. Marie extends its best wishes to residents for a safe and happy holiday season and thanks the community for its continued support. We look forward to serving you in 2026.
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