Thanksgiving Monday is here, and many stores, businesses, government offices and services will be closed or operating on reduced hours across Toronto and southern Ontario today.<\/p>\n
Thanksgiving falls on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, with closures and holiday hours expected in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton, Halton, Durham, Niagara and other cities and towns across Ontario.<\/p>\n
Thanksgiving has been officially celebrated as an annual holiday in Canada since Nov. 6, 1879 and is traditionally observed on the second Monday in October.<\/p>\n
In 1957, Governor General Vincent Massey issued a proclamation establishing the second Monday in October as a day of thanksgiving for Canada\u2019s annual harvest.<\/p>\n
Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday in Ontario and most of Canada, although its status differs in Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a look at what\u2019s open and closed on Thanksgiving Monday in:<\/p>\n
Mississauga<\/a><\/p>\n In Mississauga, a number of places will be open Oct. 12, including Square One Shopping Centre (including the Walmart Supercentre, Food District and Rec Room locations in the mall), Whole Foods Square One, T&T Supermarket, most cafes, restaurants and bars that are typically open on Mondays (call ahead to confirm), some smaller grocery stores (such as Rabba locations), most Shoppers Drug Mart locations, YMCA locations, movie theatres and most gas stations and convenience stores.<\/p>\n All government offices at all levels of government, including City Hall, will be closed. Non-emergency services and offices run by the Region of Peel will also be closed, as well as most major grocery stores, most major shopping malls (including Erin Mills Town Centre, Dixie Outlet Mall and Heartland Town Centre), Canada Post (no mail pick-up or delivery), banks, libraries, community centres, all LCBO and Beer Store locations and the\u00a0311 citizen contact centre service<\/p>\n Last 30 Days: 54,423 Votes<\/p>\n All Time: 1,569,578 Votes<\/p>\n 1709 VOTES Commuters should note that GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule, MiWay will run on a regular Sunday schedule, and the Region of Peel TransHelp office will be closed (but service will run 6 a.m.-1 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 12).<\/p>\n There will be no waste collection on Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n Brampton<\/a><\/p>\n In Brampton, residents can visit Bramalea City Centre, most Shoppers Drug Mart locations, some smaller grocery stores (such as Rabba locations), movie theatres, some recreational facilities (call ahead to confirm), YMCA facilities and most cafes, restaurants and bars that are typically open on Mondays (call ahead to confirm). Parks, trails and outdoor spaces will remain open.<\/p>\n On Oct. 12, Shoppers World will be closed, along with most major grocery stores, banks, libraries (all Brampton Library locations are closed Sunday and Monday), animal services, all non-essential federal, provincial, regional and municipal government offices (including City Hall), LCBO and Beer Store locations, Canada Post (no mail pickup or delivery) and the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA).<\/p>\n Brampton Transit will operate on a Sunday schedule. Major transit terminals, including access to lost and found, will be closed. All TransHelp requests for trips on Oct. 12 and Oct. 13 must be booked by 7 p.m. on Oct. 11. GO Transit will be on a Saturday schedule.<\/p>\n Garbage and recycling will not be picked up on Oct. 12.<\/p>\n Halton \u2013 Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills<\/a><\/p>\n On Thanksgiving, Halton residents can visit local parks and certain outdoor recreational amenities, most Shoppers Drug Mart locations, most cafes, restaurants and bars that are typically open for dining, takeout and delivery on Mondays (call ahead to confirm), some smaller grocery stores (such as Rabba grocery stores), YMCA locations, Conservation Halton Parks (Crawford Lake, Hilton Falls, Kelso, Mount Nemo, Mountsberg and Rattlesnake Point), Terra Cotta Conservation Area in Halton Hills, Toronto Premium Outlets and movie theatres.<\/p>\n A number of businesses will be closed, including banks, city\/town halls, all non-essential federal, provincial, regional and municipal offices, the Humane Society of Oakville, Milton & Halton, the Burlington animal shelter, most community centres, seniors\u2019 centres, pools, arenas and libraries, all LCBO and Beer Store locations, the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, the Mattamy National Cycling Centre, all indoor pools in Burlington, Milton Mall, Burlington Centre, Mapleview Mall and Oakville Place.<\/p>\n For transit,\u00a0Oakville Transit will be offering its holiday service schedule, Burlington Transit will operate on a Sunday schedule, Milton Transit will not operate and GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule.<\/p>\n There will be no waste collection on Oct. 12.<\/p>\n Hamilton<\/a><\/p>\n In Hamilton, residents can visit movie theatres, most Shoppers Drug Mart locations, most cafes, bars and restaurants that are typically open on Mondays (but call ahead to confirm), Splitsville bowling, YMCA locations, local parks, trails and conservation areas (including Christie Lake, Crooks\u2019 Hollow, Devil\u2019s Punchbowl, Dundas Valley, Fletcher Creek, Spencer Gorge and more) and most convenience stores and gas stations.<\/p>\n Many places will be closed on Thanksgiving, including most major grocery stores, Lime Ridge Mall, Eastgate Square, Jackson Square, banks, libraries, all LCBO and Beer Store locations, recreation and community centres, Hamilton Civic Museums, the Tropical Greenhouse at Gage Park, non-essential federal, provincial and municipal government offices (including City Hall), Canada Post (no mail pick-up or delivery), the Hamilton Farmers\u2019 Market and the City of Hamilton Animal Services office counter and shelter.<\/p>\n Commuters should note that HSR will work on a Sunday schedule, GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule and DARTS will be operating holiday service hours.<\/p>\n Garbage and recycling (blue box, green bin and yard waste) will be collected one day later.<\/p>\n Durham<\/a><\/p>\n In the Durham Region, most cafes, restaurants, and bars that usually open on Mondays will operate, but call ahead to be sure. Residents can also visit Cineplex movie theatres in Bowmanville, Oshawa, Ajax, and Pickering, Landmark Cinemas in Whitby, most Shoppers Drug Mart locations, outdoor recreational facilities (including major parks and trails such as the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail and the Oak Ridges Moraine), YMCA location, many craft breweries, some recreation centres (including Harmon Arena and Delpark Homes Centre in Oshawa) and McLean Community Centre in Ajax, most convenience stores, the Oshawa Zoo and all three casinos: Pickering Casino Resort, Ajax Casino and Blue Heron Casino in Scugog.<\/p>\n A number of places will be closed, including banks, non-essential government offices (including all town and city halls), Canada Post (no mail pick-up or delivery), libraries, Pickering Town Centre, Oshawa Centre, all LCBO and Beer Store locations, most major grocery stores, art galleries and museums, Service Oshawa and the Humane Society of Durham Region.<\/p>\n Durham Region Transit and Pulse will run on a holiday schedule and GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule<\/p>\n Monday\u2019s blue box collection in Whitby and Oshawa will be rescheduled for the next day.<\/p>\n Niagara<\/a><\/p>\n Since Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake are tourist districts, many things will remain open on Oct. 12, including Canada One Mall in Niagara Falls, The Outlet Collection in Niagara-on-the-Lake, cafes, bars and restaurants throughout Niagara (call ahead to confirm), some smaller grocery stores, movie theatres, YMCA locations, most Shoppers Drug Mart stores, most convenience stores and gas stations, most craft breweries (call ahead to confirm) and most wineries (call ahead).<\/p>\n Most Niagara Falls (including Clifton Hill) and Niagara-area tourist attractions will be open, including Bird Kingdom, Niagara City Cruises, Niagara Takes Flight, WildPlay Zipline to the Falls, Skylon Tower, Journey Behind the Falls, Niagara Falls Fun Zone- Clifton Hill, Great Canadian Midway, Movieland Wax Museum, Louis Tussaud\u2019s Waxworks, Hologram Zoo Niagara, Dinosaur Adventure Golf, House of Frankenstein, Niagara SkyWheel, The Fun House, the Butterfly Conservatory, Ripley\u2019s Believe it or Not and more.<\/p>\n Parks and trails will be open, along with some nature-oriented experiences, including Queen Victoria Park, Botanical Gardens, Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours, White Water Walk and more.<\/p>\n Places slated to close for the holiday include The Pen Centre and Fairview Mall in St. Catharines, non-emergency federal, provincial, regional and municipal offices (including all city and town halls), Canada Post (no mail pickup or delivery), most major grocery stores, all LCBO and Beer Store locations, banks, libraries and community centres.<\/p>\n On Oct. 12, Niagara Transit will offer conventional bus service in St. Catharines from 10:45 a.m. to 6 p.m., Niagara Falls from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Welland from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Regional Routes from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule.<\/p>\n Waste collection will not change on Oct. 12.<\/p>\n
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