What's open and closed in Ottawa on Canada Day 2025

Canada Day in Ottawa will be filled with free activities and fireworks, but make sure to check ahead to see what's open and what's closed. 

Most businesses and public facilities won't be open on the federal holiday, barring a few exceptions. 

Here's a look at what's opened and closed in Ottawa on Canada Day this Tuesday, July 1. 

Retail

• Stores in certain areas of the city such as the Glebe and ByWard Market can open on holidays under the province's Retail Business Holidays Act. This also applies to grocery stores.
• The Rideau Centre will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Bayshore Shopping Centre, St. Laurent Shopping Centre and Place d'Orléans will be closed.

Groceries

• Most grocery stores in the city will be closed, but there are a few exceptions.

Alcohol

• All LCBOs will be closed. 
• Select Beer Stores around the city will be open, but check here for details on your nearest location. 

What to know ahead of Canada Day in Ottawa

2 days ago

Duration 1:34

From transit to fireworks, Jodie Applewaithe breaks down what you need to know as Canada Day nears in the nation's capital.

Transportation

• There will be parking restrictions near Parliament Hill, the Supreme Court of Canada and LeBreton Flats, according to the City of Ottawa. 
• Buses, O-Trains and Para Transpo are free all day. 
• All OC Transpo stations will be open. Pimisi Station is the closest station to the main event at LeBreton Flats but passengers can also get off at Lyon or Bayview stations.
• Rural Shopper Route 301 will not run.

Trail and road closures

The City of Ottawa has released this handy map outlining closures: 

The following streets will be closed from 6 a.m. on July 1 until 2 a.m. on July 2:

• Wellington Street between Elgin Street and Vimy Place.
• Sparks Street between Lyon Street North and Bronson Avenue.
• Queen Street between Elgin Street and Bronson Avenue.
• Metcalfe Street between Albert Street and Wellington Street.
• O'Connor Street between Wellington Street and Albert Street.
• Bank Street between Wellington Street and Albert Street.
• Kent Street between Wellington Street and Albert Street.
• Lyon Street North between Wellington Street and Albert Street.
• Bay Street between Albert Street and Wellington Street.
• Bronson Avenue between Sparks Street and Albert Street.
• Commissioner Street between Albert Street and Wellington Street.
• Booth Street between Chaudière Crossing and Albert Street.
• Fleet Street between Booth and Lett Street.
• Lloyd Street between Fleet Street and Lett Street.
• Lett Street between Lloyd Street and Wellington Street.
• Onigam Street between Lemieux Island and Kichi Zībī Mīkan.
• Slidell Street between Bayview Station Road and Kichi Zībī Mīkan.

Affected roads from Tuesday, July 1 at 7 pm to Wednesday, July 2 at 2 am include:

• Albert Street between Elgin Street and City Centre Avenue; and
• Slater Street between Bronson Avenue and Elgin Street.

Affected bridges include:

• Alexandra Bridge, open to pedestrians and northbound vehicles; the southbound lane will be closed from Tuesday, July 1 at 6 am to 11 pm.
• Chaudière Crossing, closed in both directions to vehicles and pedestrians from Tuesday, July 1 at 6 am to Wednesday, July 2 at 2 am.
• Portage Bridge, open to pedestrians; closed to vehicles in both directions from Tuesday, July 1 at 6 am to Wednesday, July 2 at 2 am.

Affected pathways from Monday, June 30 at 8 pm to Wednesday, July 2 at 2 am include:

• Chief William Commanda Bridge.

Preparations ramping up for Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa

4 days ago

Duration 2:57

Ottawa tourism operators are hard at work preparing for the city's Canada Day celebrations next week.

Recreation

• Outdoor pools, wading pools and splash pads will be open with modified schedules.
• Many recreation centres will be closed but others will have altered hours and changes to drop-in schedules. The city suggests checking each each facility's page for more details.
• City-operated museums, Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe, and Shenkman Arts Centre will be closed.

City services

• There will be no curbside green bin, recycling, garbage or bulky item collection on Tuesday, July 1. Pick up will take place on Wednesday, July 2. In addition, the collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
• Multi-residential garbage containers will be collected on the regular scheduled day. Collections of multi-residential recycling containers, bulky items and green bins will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
• The Trail Waste Facility Landfill will be open on Tuesday, July 1 from 9 am to 5 pm.
• All branches of Ottawa Public Library will be closed.
• All services at Ottawa City Hall, Ben Franklin Place in Nepean, 255 Centrum Blvd. in Orléans and the  Provincial Offences Court at 100 Constellation Dr. will be closed.
• The Business Licensing Centre at 735 Industrial Ave. will be closed.
• The City of Ottawa Spay and Neuter Clinic at 26 Concourse Gate will be closed.
• The City of Ottawa Archives and Gallery 112 at the James Bartleman Centre will be closed from Saturday, June 28 to Tuesday, July 1.

Health, dental and child-care services

• The Site program office and supervised consumption services at 179 Clarence St. will be closed. The Site mobile van will operate from 5 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
• The Sexual Health Clinic and satellite clinics will be closed.
• The city's dental clinics will be closed.
• The Health811 line will be open. 
• The city's immunization program telephone line will be closed.
• All city child-care centres and Parenting-In-Ottawa drop-ins will be closed.