Most big-name stores in Canada stay open on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, while federal services and banks are what usually shut down. What is closed (or open) can also vary by province and city, because only federal workplaces are required to close and some provinces do not treat it as a full statutory holiday.

Key thing to know

  • The day is a federal statutory holiday (Sept 30), so federally regulated workplaces close:
    • Banks
    • Canada Post (no mail and many post offices closed)
    • Service Canada, passport offices, and other federal government offices
    • Federal courts.
  • Most retail and grocery stores are open with regular or near-regular hours:
    • Large grocery chains such as Sobeys, Atlantic Superstore, IGA, Metro, Maxi, Provigo, Walmart and similar typically stay open, though some may adjust hours locally.
* Pharmacies like Shoppers Drug Mart / Pharmaprix / Jean Coutu usually operate on normal or slightly modified hours.

* Liquor store hours depend on the province: some provincial liquor stores are open with reduced hours, some close specific locations.
  • Malls and retail plazas :
    • In many cities (Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Hamilton, etc.), major malls and most retail stores are allowed to open and generally do, often on regular hours or slightly shorter daytime hours.

What is usually closed

Across most of Canada, you can expect these to be closed:

  • Federal government services
    • Service Canada, CRA front counters, passport services, and most federal buildings and offices.
  • Banks
    • All major federally regulated banks close branches for the day.
  • Canada Post
    • No regular mail delivery and most post office counters closed (including many inside pharmacies/grocers).
  • Some municipal or provincial services (varies by city)
    • Certain city halls, licensing centres, archives, and some specialty clinics or municipal offices may close even if the province does not recognize the day as a stat holiday.

What is usually open

In practice, on Truth and Reconciliation Day you will often still find:

  • Grocery stores and big-box stores
    • Most large chains open (Walmart, large groceries, many liquor stores, depending on province).
  • Malls and shopping centres
    • Most shopping centres remain open; examples include large malls in New Brunswick, Winnipeg, and Ottawa.
  • Restaurants, bars, and cafes
    • Typically open under regular hours in cities like Montreal and Toronto.
  • Public transit
    • Usually runs on a regular weekday or special schedule, but is not stopped completely.

Why you’ll see conflicting answers

  • The holiday is federal only , and some provinces (like Quebec and Ontario) have chosen not to make it a full provincial statutory holiday, so:
    • Federally regulated employers must close or provide the stat.
    • Most private-sector and provincially regulated businesses can choose to stay open and usually do.
  • Even within the same city, individual businesses can decide:
    • A few independent shops or markets may close to observe the day (for example, some local markets or specific liquor outlets).

How to check for your own city

Because practice varies by province and even by mall or chain, the safest move is to:

  1. Check your province or city’s “what’s open and closed on Truth and Reconciliation Day” news article each year (local news outlets usually publish a list).
  2. Look up your specific mall/store (Google Maps or its website) for hours on Sept 30.
  3. Remember that banks, post offices, and federal offices are the ones you can almost always count on being closed.

Bottom line: most stores and malls stay open, but banks, Canada Post, and federal government offices are closed, and some local public services may also shut down depending on your city and province.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.